Iron Triangle is a contemporary term and a very broad concept. According to prevalent understanding, it is the relationship between bureaucracy (controlled by presidency), Congress and interest groups. According to another understanding, it is the relationship between the presidency (appoints federal judges & control bureaucracy), Congress and interest groups. The latter understanding, Iron Triangle, makes more sense than the previous understanding.
Before we discuss how this Iron Triangle impacts life, it is essential to understand how this triangle works. It is very evident that the American political system is strongly influenced by big money, especially after Citizen United decision, in which Supreme Court allowed corporations to spend money in electoral processes (presidential and congressional). As a consequence, large super PAC is constituted that spend money during the election cycle and try to put in office, in the Presidency and Congress, that person, who is more inclined towards their business interests. For instance, Hillary Clinton was financially backed by large super PACs during primaries and the presidential election. When such president comes to power or such congressman is in office, he/she appoints bureaucrats/judges (and in case of a member of Congress passes legislation), who can assist in devising and implementing such policies, which are favor an interest group that influences members of Congress and the presidency. Evidence suggests that the Supreme Court, which is a non-political institution, has become highly politicized, which has given birth to various kinds of challenges.
The Iron Triangle, which we have discussed, impacts life, in some ways. Following are a few examples;
EDUCATION
Interest groups lobby against free college and university education because it hurts financial interests of these financial organizations that issue student loans. Free college and university education also hurt the financial interests of the education industry, which is a multi-million-dollar industry in the United States. During the primaries, free education and student loan were discussed, but they never be addressed. This is the reason some groups always oppose free education policies (Frolov).
MINIMUM WAGE
It is a known fact that the capitalist economic system has inherent flaws, which adversely affect hidden-hand (forces that establish equilibrium). One of the challenges, these flaws yield, is waging issue. As per several surveys, the minimum wage is essential in several industries, and it will increase the size of consumption in the economy and consumption is the engine of growth. However, interest groups lobby against setting and the rise of the minimum wage on the pretext that government intervention adversely affects economic system. The increase in the minimum wage reduces corporate profit, which is why it is bitterly resisted. But there is a need to increase minimum wage for the betterment of the economy (Rural Migration News).
FREE HEALTHCARE
Almost all developed or industrialized countries acknowledge healthcare as a right, rather than a privilege. However, in the United States, healthcare is a very controversial political issue. The reason for this controversy is that a robust and effective health care system will be down the cost of medical services, and it will provide quality services, to Americans, at a very low cost. It reduces the margin of profit for pharmaceutical companies and physicians that is why they devise special interest groups to resist an effective health care system. Free or low-cost Healthcare system must not be opposed by anyone for the welfare of our nation (Lewis).
NET NEUTRALITY
Special interest groups have focused and net neutrality because it severs interests of the few. Net Neutrality stops data providers from manipulating information or taking any sorts of decisions regarding it. For instance, they cannot slow servers to particular websites; neither can they block any website. However, special interest groups are trying to end this neutrality so that data providers can earn more. It directly affects me and my freedom, regarding choices I make.
CONCLUSION
Iron Triangle is very strong, and it influences life, of ordinary citizens, in some ways. Mostly it benefits large and powerful corporations and industries, which can influence political-economic system in their favor. During the discourse, we have thoroughly discussed how the iron triangle affects and affected my life in some ways. This triangle should be dismantled, and the United States’ political-judicial-legislative system must work efficiently to benefit ordinary citizens.
Work Cited
Frolov, Boris. “PM in our everyday life. Set goals and go through “Iron Triangle”.” Boris Frolov. BorisFrolove, 2 February 2017. Web. 14 February 2018. https://borisfrolov.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/pm-in-our-everyday-life-set-goals-and-go-through-iron-triangle/.
Lewis, William. “What is the Iron Triangle of Health Care?” Medium.Com. Medium.Com, 18 May 2017. Web. 14 February 2018. https://medium.com/more-health/what-is-the-iron-triangle-of-health-care-9ce6f5276077.
Rural Migration News. “The Iron Triangle and a piece rate-productivity standards database.” Migration.Ucdavis.Edu. Migration.Ucdavis.Edu, 21 December 2017. Web. 14 February 2018. https://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn/blog/post/?id=2102.
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