Trust and the Democratic Process Robert A. Levine 11-3-14 As Election Day approaches, it is worthwhile giving some thought to the role that trust plays in a democracy. Ideally, democracy can be defined as a form of government where all eligible voters have an equal say in determining policy, how they will be governed, and the laws that will be enacted, with the will of the majority being followed. In addition, the rights of minorities will be protected. America is a republic, or a representative form of democracy, where the people elect the legislative and executive officeholders to carry out their wishes. Inherent in the democratic process are bonds of trust that must exist between the voters and their representatives, among the parties that organize the candidates on the basis of policy choices, and the citizens and their governments. If these bonds are severed, voters become cynical and apathetic, and less willing to participate in the democratic process, as they feel they are being deceived. And government becomes increasingly dysfunctional. In America, trust between the electorate and those elected to office, and between the two major parties that control the government, and among the officeholders who have been elected, has vanished, shown by low public approval ratings for Congress and the political parties. Another significant metric that points to this disconnect between the electorate and government at all levels is the percentage of voters that participate in the nation’s elections. In presidential years, the rate is about 60 percent and in mid-term elections it’s generally below 40 percent. This proportion of citizens voting is lower than that of any of the advanced industrial democracies. Many citizens do not vote because they believe their votes are meaningless, or they vote out of a sense of obligation not really caring who wins. They see the huge sums that affluent citizens, special interests, and lobbyists contribute to the campaigns of the parties and the candidates, and know that money talks and that their voices will not be heard. So why should they give a damn? Citizens also see the tenor of the campaign ads on both sides with negative attacks, lies, and half-truths, as the candidates, Super PACs and 501(c)(4) organizations do or say anything in attempts to harvest votes. Can citizens trust the candidates that run these ads, believing they will govern ethically and with the interests of the middle-class majority at heart? Only if the citizens are blind, deaf, and brain-damaged. The majority of Americans would like immigration reform, tax reform, and background checks on gun sales, but their elected representatives ignore the wishes of the majority on these issues as well as on many others. The voters also recognize the hostility and conflict between the two parties and the lack of trust between them, both in Washington and on a state level. This Congress has passed the fewest bills and been the least productive of any Congress in history. Some Republicans have stated openly that their main job was to prevent President Obama from being successful, not in working with the president for the good of the country. And with Republicans blocking the appointments of federal judges, candidates for federal agencies, and subcabinet posts by Obama, Senate Democrats took the nuclear option and confirmed the appointments by simple majorities instead of the sixty votes that had previously been necessary. Dysfunction and lack of trust. You bet! And how can citizens trust their government when they hear of the scandals and mismanagement affecting government agencies like the VA, the CDC, the IRS, the Secret Service, and programs like the Affordable Care Act. So where do things go from here? Can we expect them to get better? Will citizens trust the candidates and parties and will the parties trust each other? Not likely. The Republicans will definitely retain control of the House and are predicted to take over the Senate as well in this election. Whether or not that happens will probably make no difference in how the government in Washington functions. There will not be enough votes for the Republicans to overcome a presidential veto, so the only way bills can be passed is if compromises are reached between the Republican leadership in Congress and the president. With the right-wing Tea Partiers nipping at Boehner and McConnell’s heels, the chances for compromise are small. Trust remains a victim of the democratic system. In the future, either more centrist Republicans and Democrats willing to work for the nation are needed, or a new centrist third party that would be trusted and garner significant support among voters according to the polls. America cannot continue on its current path. Resurrecting Democracy robertlevinebooks
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:47:40 +0000
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