The debt limit legislative fiasco to a large degree was controlled by a small group of recently elected tea-party legislators. A good question for civics teacher to ask: “In a democracy, how is it possible that a small group of zealots can force its will on the majority?”
It would be a trick question, because, in fact, in a democracy such an outcome would be impossible. If the U.S. Congress was structured as a town hall meeting, the 20% of the group who are radicals would have their voices heard. But eventually, in a Robert’s Rules run meeting, the majority would assert itself.
The U.S. government, however, is not organized as a town hall democracy. The three branch system — giving Wyoming the same number of senators as New York — was designed, in part, by thinkers who were afraid of too much democracy.
I’ve often mentioned the POV of the genius of systems’ thinking, W. Edward Deming, that 85% of quality is determined by the organizational structure of a system. We are experiencing a systems’ problem. We need to analyze why it is, in our present system, over and over again our government pursues policies contrary to the will of large majorities of Americans. Our political discussions should explore possible system changes that would make our government more likely to advance the common good. For example, would a constitutional amendment that outlaws gerrymandering help? How about a constitutional amendment that guarantees free TV access for all verified candidates? How about a system of on-line voting? How about a whole new approach to civic education?
The exciting truth is, our system of government is changeable. Blacks, women, the poor and 18 year olds can now vote. And, the federal government, if it so chose, has the authority to soak the rich and redistribute their wealth. Our present system is a shocking change from that imagined by the founding fathers, and a big improvement on their design.
One obvious big glitch in the system that needs to be addressed, illustrated by this debt limit debacle, is the corrupting influence of the unchecked power of political parties. The parties have way too much power and are controlled by a very small, tiny, fraction of the entire voting public. To a big extent the parties are isolated from the public — 80% of the members of the U.S. House are in “safe” seats. This unreality allows John Boehner, regardless he is Speaker, to see his connection to the Republican caucus as his first priority. In his important job, he makes no pretense that he is trying to represent all Americans, or, amazingly, even the Republicans in his district (OH-6).
The debt limit fiasco came about because the tea party representatives leveraged themselves to more power than they deserved. All the Republican sheepies, like my OH-3 representative, Mike Turner, allowed it to happen because maintaining solidarity with fellow Republican legislators, regardless of how crazy their ideas and actions, was seen as a first priority. The drift to unreasonableness within a major political party, illustrated by this event, is alarming.
This debt limit fiasco should wake us to the deplorable state of our system. True, congress was never designed to operate as a Roberts’ Rules Town Hall democracy, but, we still have a system that has the capacity to do a much better job than it presently is doing — of advancing the common good and of representing the interests of common citizens. The system, from many standpoints, is failing miserably. The foundational question that more and more Americans are asking is: How do we get the system to work? As I wrote four years ago, it seems to me, inevitably, The Ascending Issue In Our Democracy Is Democracy Itself.
See also: The Best Way To Transform Our Democracy Is By Transforming Our Political Parties
Oh come on, Mike. you are being so one-sided. The 2010 elections were a tremendous victory for the tea party folks. America spoke, the wanted less government spending. Yet a small group of fanatic liberals in Congress, uncaring about the good of the country, walking lock step with their leaders in Congress, succeed getting the debt ceiling raised by almost $3 trillion. This was against the will of the people.
BTW isn’t Nancy Pelosi in a safe district?
… genius of systems thinking, W. Edward Deming …
How do Ohio’s Democrats support systems thinking in public education? Governor Voinovich was strongly supportive of TQM in state operations; Governor Taft less so. Governor Strickland’s “reforms” actually repealed progress made over the previous decade.
Until you succeed with selling Deming/TQM to Ohio Democrats, privatizing public education appears to be the only way forward for Ohio schoolchildren.
Do Ohio’s Democrats (and their unionized supporters) care about schoolchildren? How do you know? By what means?
Mike — You generally do a good job or writing articles that give both sides a fair shake and end up with something worth reading. (even if it is left leaning)
This is definitely not one of those articles. In fact, it could very well be one of the worst I’ve read on here.
Some of my favorite sections:
1. “In a democracy, how is it possible that a small group of zealots can force its will on the majority?” You could just as easily ask that referring to the democrats.
2. “And, the federal government, if it so chose, has the authority to soak the rich and redistribute their wealth.” Can we say pandering to class warfare? If you taxed the so called rich at 100%, you would still have a budget problem. That is how unsustainable things are right now. Remember this fundamental economic philosphy: TANSTAAFL
3. “The debt limit fiasco came about because the tea party representatives leveraged themselves to more power than they deserved.” The debt fiasco came about because members from both parties over a number of decades did what was popular instead of what was needed — and kicked the can. More Americans are finally aware enough that they can’t ignore it anymore.
4. “The drift to unreasonableness within a major political party, illustrated by this event, is alarming.” You are right. It is alarming that some democrats refuse to see the writing on the wall that the US fiscal path must change and hard decisions must be made.
Rick: Yes, I would imagine Pelosi represents a “safe” district, as are most congressional Democrats. The degradation of our representative democracy is a matter of the system as a whole, not individual political parties. It is the Money Party that is in charge, and this party is filled with nominal Republicans and nominal Democrats.
I don’t think you can substantiate your claim that raising the debt ceiling “was against the will of the people.” In your comments you seem to be presenting fantasy thinking. The idea that “America spoke, they wanted less government spending,” is bogus. America wants jobs and this agreement will cost 1.8 million jobs. And the idea that there are any “liberals” in congress with the clout to do anything is unfortunately not true. Bernie Sanders can wave his arms and make impassioned speeches but he is not having much impact on the other members.
Eric: Overall, I was very disappointed with Strickland’s educational policy. After making a big deal about his desire to reform education by starting with a “clean slate,” he seemed to simply cave to accepting a solution that could have been written by the OEA. He certainly didn’t follow my advice: Strickland Should Use Charter Schools To Help Fulfill His Promise: “Reform and Renew the System of Education Itself”
I disagree with your conclusion: “Until you succeed with selling Deming/TQM to Ohio Democrats, privatizing public education appears to be the only way forward for Ohio schoolchildren.” The way forward to the needed restructuring, I believe, is via local communities exerting local control. This would only be possible by a localized grass roots democratic (small d) awakening, but it is possible, and I believe the best chance. Rather than running for my local board, this year I am going to support efforts by my local League of Women Voters.
Bryan: Your points, 1) I agree, the degradation of our democracy is not a Republican Party v Democratic Party issue. 2) My point is that the system is now much different from that envisioned by the founding fathers — and was changed by history, much effort, and much suffering. As a democracy, we need to make the system work to fulfill its goals of “liberty and justice for all,” or, if necessary, we need to change the system so that it will work. 3) The fiasco I’m referring to is the fact that our current system of party politics allowed a small radical faction to push through a very unbalanced solution, according to polls contrary to the wishes of over 70% of Americans, that demanded sacrifice from the poor, but nothing from the rich. 4) There has always been a lot of unreasonableness in congress, but with this debt resolution fiasco, there emerged a POV that was a dangerous denial of reality, that it would be no big deal if the U.S. failed to pay bills that previous congresses had legally obligated us to pay.
Rather than running for my local board, this year I am going to support efforts by my local League of Women Voters.
Mike, Mike, Mike…
So Ohio schoolchildren don’t deserve the best that Ohio think tanks have to offer? Where are the LWV’s plans to fix education? While I admire the League, they’ve not done the homework that Kettering Foundation has.