Political Fix

Scott London

Description

The view that something is amiss in American government is now widely shared. "We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years," say scholars Tomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein, "and never have we seen them this dysfunctional." Even some elected officials acknowledge they have a problem. "We need to change the way we do business," says Tom Udall, a Democratic senator from New Mexico. "Right now, we have gridlock. We have delay. We have obstruction, and we don't have any accountability." The troubles facing American politics are varied and complex. Observers point to a wide range of developments that, if left unchecked, are likely to further weaken the effectiveness of government. These include: The flood of corporate money into American political campaigns. The growing influence of lobbyists and special interest groups. The increasing polarization and rancor of our political discourse. Structural impediments, such as current redistricting laws that limit ballot choices and skew election results. The "permanent campaign" that encourages lawmakers to focus on short-term gains instead of long-term solutions. Political leaders acting in their own interests rather than serving the public good. The disengagement of ordinary Americans who turn away from politics in disgust rather than getting involved and making their voices heard. This issue guide presents three options for consideration: Break the grip of special interests The key to addressing gridlock and dysfuntion in government is to rein in special interests and curb the influence of big money. Increase responsibility Our best hope of fixing American politics is to restore individual responsibility in communities and at every level of government. Fix the mechanisms of politics The mechanisms of government are no longer responsive to the will of the people. We need major structural changes to make the system work as it was intended to.

Sujets

• Education

Informations

• Publié par: National Issues Forums Institute
• Date de parution: 14 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781943028993
• Langue: English

Extrait

a similar stalemate over the so-called “fiscal cliff” again came down to the final hours and disaster was averted only by agreeing to take up the issue again later.
Meanwhile, significant issues, such as energy and a deteriorating infrastructure, go unaddressed. The 112th Congress of 2011-2012 was the least productive of any Congress since at least the 1940s, possibly ever, and the 113th Congress became the second least productive.
The view that something is amiss in American government is now widely shared. “We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years,” say scholars Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein, “and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.”
America’s culture continues to be vital and self-renewing, according to James Fallows in the Atlantic, but it’s saddled with “a governing system that increasingly looks like a joke.” He points to the “near-impossibility of addressing problems that require truly public efforts to solve.”
According to former defense secretary Robert Gates, politics have deteriorated so badly, “I think the greatest national security threat to this country at this point is the two square miles that encompasses the Capitol building and the White House.”
A Mix of Forces
The troubles facing American politics are varied and complex. Observers point to a wide range of developments that, if left unchecked, are likely to further weaken the effectiveness of government. These include:
♦ The flood of corporate money into American political campaigns.
♦ The growing influence of lobbyists and special-interest groups.
♦ The increasing polarization and rancor of our political discourse.
♦ Structural impediments, such as current redistricting laws that limit ballot choices and skew election results.
♦ The “permanent campaign” that encourages lawmakers to focus on short-term gains instead of long-term solutions.
♦ Political leaders acting in their own interests rather than serving the public good.
♦ The disengagement of ordinary Americans who turn away from politics in disgust rather than getting involved and making their voices heard.
A Framework for Deliberation
How do we address these problems and get American politics back on track? This issue guide provides a brief overview of the issue and outlines three options for addressing it. Each option speaks for one set of priorities and views and, drawing ideas from across the political spectrum, makes its own case for a unique and consistent approach to the problem. Just as important, the drawbacks of each option are made clear.
Option 1 : Break the grip of special interests
The key to addressing gridlock and dysfunction in government is to rein in special interests and curb the influence of big money.
Option 2 : Increase responsibility
Our best hope of fixing American politics is to restore individual responsibility in communities and at every level of government.
Option 3 : Fix the mechanisms of government
The mechanisms of government are no longer responsive to the will of the people. We need major structural changes to make the system work as it was intended to.
In the following pages, these options are presented in greater detail. Each option includes a list of possible remedies and identifies some of the potential trade-offs. The actions are not offered as definitive solutions but rather as starting points for dialogue and deliberation.

The National Issues Forums Institute
This issue guide was prepared for the National Issues Forums Institute in collaboration with the Kettering Foundation. Issue guides in this series are used by civic and educational organizations interested in addressing public issues. These organizations use the books in locally initiated forums convened each year in hundreds of communities. For a description of the National Issues Forums, log onto the website: www.nifi.org.
Other Topics and Ordering Information
Recent topics in this series include obesity, the economy, mental illness, and energy. For more information, please visit www.nifi.org.
Writer: Scott London
Managing Editors: Ilse Tebbetts and Tony Wharton
Executive Editor: Brad Rourke
Design and production: Long’s Graphic Design, Inc.
Copy Editor: Lisa Boone-Berry
Political Fix: How Should We Get American Politics Back on Track?
Copyright 2016, National Issues Forums Institute
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-943028-98-6

This publication may not be reproduced or copied without written permission of National Issues Forums Institute. For permission to reproduce or copy, please write to [e-mail] .

Founded in 1927, the Kettering Foundation of Dayton, Ohio (with an office in Washington, DC), is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute that studies the public’s role in democracy. It provides issue guides and other research for the National Issues Forums. For information about the Kettering Foundation, please visit www.kettering.org or contact the foundation at 200 Commons Road, Dayton, Ohio 45459.
CONTENTS
Option One: Break the Grip of Special Interests
Big Money