## Metadata - Author: [[Hélène Landemore]] - Full Title: Politics Without Politicians - Category: #books ## Highlights - I was inspired by a striking quote from the early-twentieth-century British essayist G. K. Chesterton, a figure with both conservative and radical leanings, who, though not otherwise a major influence on this book, offers this brilliant definition of democracy: “All real democracy is an attempt (like that of a jolly hostess) to bring the shy people out.”[6] ([Location 126](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0F88YRDMR&location=126)) - According to political scientists, a staggering 78 percent of the American adult population is represented by just 6 percent of the lobbying groups in Washington. Meanwhile, the remaining 22 percent—comprised of executives (8.5 percent) and professionals (13 percent)—command an overwhelming 94 percent of the lobbying influence.[16] To put it bluntly, more than three quarters of the US population is represented by a tiny fraction of lobbying groups, while a small elite—the white-collar professionals and their corporate bosses—enjoy near-total dominance, with 94 percent of the lobbying power aligned to their interests. It’s only logical that those with greater access to representatives end up steering the decision-making process. ([Location 864](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0F88YRDMR&location=864))