A big issue is also that the people at the bottom of the ladder do not have the money to say buy a subscription to the New York Times nor the time to read it as they often have to work multiple jobs. So gigantic inequalities also prevent a lot of people from participating meaningfully in elections.

Why is it a concern ?
- capture of political institutions by money. The Supreme Court enabled it by the ‘Citizens United’ decision.
- environmental risks, education opportunities , healthcare depend drastically on one’s wallet
- extreme inequalities motivate authoritarianism