04/10 - Are Politics Destroying Democracy?
Is representative democracy no longer working?
Gridlock. Party politics. Lack of bipartisanship. Is representative democracy no longer working? And if the system is broken in Washington, what’s the collateral damage to Louisiana? Watch “Are Politics Destroying Democracy?” on Louisiana Public Square, Wednesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. on LPB.
Backgrounder
“It is a very toxic environment in Washington right now, and it's very stressful, and people are going to say things that they may sometimes regret." Those were the words from Louisiana Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine on March 2nd reacting to comments from Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu suggesting Levine should leave his post because of his opposition to the Democrats’ health care overhaul proposal. In an interview with The Associated Press Landrieu said of Levine, "I just think he's wrong, usually morning, noon and night, and as far as I'm concerned, he can go get another job." The Senator soon after apologized by phone and Levine accepted what he described as a genuine apology.
The “toxic environment” Secretary Levine was referring to is what some analysts see as growing tensions in Congress due to partisan politics and a lack of civility. A recent Gallup poll shows that 72% of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing and 60% of respondents to a recent Rasmussen poll feel that neither Democratic or Republican leaders have a good understanding of what is needed today. The political climate and voter distrust in the nation’s capital has some wondering if representative democracy is no longer working. And if the system is broken in Washington, what’s the collateral damage to Louisiana?
National Public Radio series “Trust in Government: The Season of Discontent”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126051549
Pew Research Center Survey on “The People and Their Government”
http://people-press.org/report/606/trust-in-government
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Our Panelists:
We want to know your opinion! Leave your comments in the box below.
Of course the “representative democracy” is not working! Since this country was founded on a “representative REPUBLIC”. Everyone should do the tiny bit of research to learn the difference! YouTube and Wiki are invaluable tools in this process. But , before you can accept the new information, you must approach it with an open mind. Meaning, ignore all that a public education system and mainstream media has DRILLED into your brain. Only then can you learn the truth!
Posted by Chris M. on 04/14 at 06:12 PM
The US is a Republic not a democracy. The word democracy isn’t use a single instance in the US Constitution. We have a democratic voting system, but we live in a representative Republic. The word democracy is incorrectly used by both the media and the people, in the place of freedom. Democracy is not freedom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DioQooFIcgE
Posted by PB on 04/15 at 01:26 PM
Our political discourse has become dysfunctional, and I believe the reason for this is that it is based on the legal model, which is all about winning the argument, and not about discovering the truth or a viable solution to our problems. One thing that contributes to this is that our politicians are now always in campaign mode. Winning should not be everything. Discussing and solving our problems in respectful and constructive ways should be our main concern.
Posted by Barry Jean Ancelet on 04/28 at 09:35 PM
Bipartinsanship IS the problem,not the solution. It has come to mean “Republicans acting like Democrats”. McCain lost to Obama BECAUSE he was a “maverick” who held basically liberal positions on key issues like campaign finance reform (a euphemism for controlled speech according to the Supreme Court) and illegal imigration.
The “ugly” in politics is mostly emanating from the amazingly intollerant left. Loyal opposition apparently means “sedition” in the Orwellian world of the modern democrat. It is a farce and a misdirection of political intellect to concentrate on non-issues like “civility in the public discourse”. Politics has always been a rough game in this country, just look at any newspaper from 1789 to 2010. Stop the hand wringing and focus on the issues instead of decrying “the end of democracy.” It is journalistically lazy and serves only to distract from solving real problems, like a federal government gone insane with lust for power and control.
Is it possible that journalists can separate themselves from their own ego’s? Perhaps not. But objective journalism of the political arena has all but dissapeared, and that includes, unfortunately, public TV and radio.
Cliff Bullock
Posted by cliff on 04/28 at 10:28 PM
Because we are suppose to be a representative republic, many citizens do not feel represented. Health Care Reform was a good example of this. The majority as per whatever poll you would like to use, did not want the health care reform shoved at us but we got it anyway. When the government feels it knows better than its citizens, then it is no longer a government of the people!
Posted by Deborah on 04/29 at 12:39 PM
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