Q&A.
Yesterday I had a student ask me some questions on the record for his political science class. I thought I'd post my answers here:
1.)What do you feel our government can do to increase voter turnout?
Purge the system of the money that alienates so many citizens. Politics is a millionaire's game, and it's unfathomable for better qualified and experienced citizens without access to the infrastructure of favoritism to contend in the modern American political arena. Level the economic playing field so that anyone with a serious interest in running for public office can have access to the public election forum, and people will very naturally become more interested.
2.)Why do you feel voter turnout is so low in America?
Because the system is corrupt and broken. More people vote for American Idol than they do their own congressional representatives, because they see their results in the former, and rarely do in the latter. For example, say a community does rally and put a truly "representative" congressional delegate in office. Chances are that representative will get railroaded and stonewalled in session from getting anything meaningful done for their district, and will therefore appear "ineffective." In the meantime, the vultures of political opportunism swoop in and buy the seat back with ad campaigns and smear tactics.
3.)What are your feelings on the electoral college?
I'm indifferent to it. I see both sides of the debate. Ultimately, it does seem to balance the rural and urban electorate, but it does so at an expense that compromises truly democratic principles. It's a compromise that seems necessary given Montesquieu's observations that the geographical extent of a territory predicates the type of government which will manifest upon it. Our alternative is to break up the United States of America as a singular political entity, and allow states to operate pluralistically on an international level. I think most Americans would be uncomfortable with that suggestion, so the electoral college serves to mitigate the vast geographical differences of the union in the meantime.
4.)Why do you think that politicians have such a bad reputation?
Because they've worked so hard to earn them. The culture of incumbency allows a sense of detachment that turns politician from his or her constituency to special economic interests, which are inherently anti-democratic. The precedent of Cincinnatus is all but forgotten in America, and in the meantime capitalism, not democracy, governs the nation.
1.)What do you feel our government can do to increase voter turnout?
Purge the system of the money that alienates so many citizens. Politics is a millionaire's game, and it's unfathomable for better qualified and experienced citizens without access to the infrastructure of favoritism to contend in the modern American political arena. Level the economic playing field so that anyone with a serious interest in running for public office can have access to the public election forum, and people will very naturally become more interested.
2.)Why do you feel voter turnout is so low in America?
Because the system is corrupt and broken. More people vote for American Idol than they do their own congressional representatives, because they see their results in the former, and rarely do in the latter. For example, say a community does rally and put a truly "representative" congressional delegate in office. Chances are that representative will get railroaded and stonewalled in session from getting anything meaningful done for their district, and will therefore appear "ineffective." In the meantime, the vultures of political opportunism swoop in and buy the seat back with ad campaigns and smear tactics.
3.)What are your feelings on the electoral college?
I'm indifferent to it. I see both sides of the debate. Ultimately, it does seem to balance the rural and urban electorate, but it does so at an expense that compromises truly democratic principles. It's a compromise that seems necessary given Montesquieu's observations that the geographical extent of a territory predicates the type of government which will manifest upon it. Our alternative is to break up the United States of America as a singular political entity, and allow states to operate pluralistically on an international level. I think most Americans would be uncomfortable with that suggestion, so the electoral college serves to mitigate the vast geographical differences of the union in the meantime.
4.)Why do you think that politicians have such a bad reputation?
Because they've worked so hard to earn them. The culture of incumbency allows a sense of detachment that turns politician from his or her constituency to special economic interests, which are inherently anti-democratic. The precedent of Cincinnatus is all but forgotten in America, and in the meantime capitalism, not democracy, governs the nation.
posted by MK | 8:24 AM
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