Abstract

One reason for objecting to economic inequality is that it interferes with the fairness of the political system by giving the rich an unacceptable degree of influence over political outcomes. More needs to be said, however, about whether this influence is _improper_ or whether it is _unequal_. One way in which the influence of the rich can be improper is by leading officials to adopt policies that fail to give proper weight to the interests of poorer citizens. In other cases, it may be that what officials should do is to be guided by the expressed preferences of their constituents. In such cases unequal influence seems more relevant, although even here the basic wrong is failing to be guided by the right standards of official conduct. The ideal of equal influence is best understood not in terms of likelihood of success but rather in terms of equal access to means of influence.