The theme of the book is that a democratic debate lies at the heart of American politics.
Elites are small groups of people who possess unusual amounts of power.
Some people believe that in our democratic system, effective power rests in the hands of a group of highly educated and wealthy elites. In fact, many Americans would argue that the representation of citizens by an educated and wealthy few is in the best interests of the country because crucial decisions should be made by those who are most qualified to make them. A strong popular democratic force also pulsates throughout American culture and politics. Most Americans agree that political power should stem from the people. They also agree on the basic principles of democratic government, including the importance of a written constitution and of basic rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press.