If you believe, as I do, that the country is facing a long list of huge problems, and that Congress is doing very little of substance to solve any of them, then what is the root of the problem? We often hear that a lack of bipartisanship is the issue, but what does that really mean? Just that the 535 people already in Congress can’t work together, but what forces put those people in the position to stymie the problem-solving role of government?The problem is that our elected representatives no longer represent people as much as they represent an ideology. And ideology, like theology, has been argued for millennia without a winner emerging. There never will be a winner. There will only be losers, and we are them.
Why do our representatives represent ideology rather than people? It is at least in part, because of gerrymandering. This is one of the great examples of the laws of unintended consequences at work. Politicians, in an attempt to make their own offices more secure, have created Congressional districts that resemble metastasizing cancer cells or Jackson Pollock paint splatters more than they do a rational association of citizens with common problems and concerns.
Instead of districting so that areas with common issues and problems (suburban, urban, industrial, farming, etc.) are together, districts are created by politicians, that lump together people who are disposed to vote similarly, or by purely racial categories, regardless of how geographically remote they are from one another.
This lessens the practical common bonds among the constituents but allows their natural cultural and ideological commonalities to run free. So instead of debating the practical merits of policies and how they will affect our lives, we argue their ideological merits – a kind of massive, communal circle-jerk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Brooks’ column today offers a fascinating look into why our leadership class in all fields is suffering from diminished respect and support from the people they lead. I highly recommend it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Plan (an update). I was distressed to discover yesterday that Glenn Beck’s next book due out in August will be titled "The Plan." I’m going to have to find a new name for my scribbling on the process of developing my new life plan. Suggestions are welcome.
I learned about Beck’s book from a piece on the Daily Beast that was an excerpt from a new book called “Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America,” which appears to skewer both left and right.
Here is a really scary fact of Beck’s own admission: he smoked pot every day for 15 years. Instead of telling us smoking pot would make us heroin addicts, perhaps our parents should have warned us against becoming Glenn Beck. It might have been more effective.
Posts
10 comments:
This post brings up a couple of things for me. I do a lot of work with teams and have been involved with several team development assignments over the past few weeks. I always introduce the concept of Team Toxins and how they can inhibit a team from having meaningful communication or from being effective at all. They show up on most teams in some form or another and need to be managed before proceeding. These Toxins (learned from my work with the Center of Right Relationship and adapted from John Gottman) are:
-Blame or Criticism
-Defensiveness
-Stonewalling (withdrawing from a conversation you don't agree with)
-Contempt (namecalling, sarcasm)
It became apparent to me as I wrote these on the flip chart for the third time that all of these were present in our Congress, all the time. Perhaps there needs to be some team agreements about how to handle these Toxins when they arise at the legislative level so that there can actually be some movement, constructive interaction, listening, sincere debate, effective dialogue and concrete decisions made in the spirit of collaborative teamwork and leadership. Isn't that really what we were hoping for when we think of bi-partisanship? Isn't that what we really expect from our elected representatives?
Dennis perhaps your book can be called "My Plan". Perhaps you haven't completed The Plan yet because you don't fully own it. And fortunately, our parents didn't have the likes of Glenn Beck to contend with - back then there weren't Reality News shows.
Lou -- there was Dorothy Fuldheim.
You make good points. Congress should hire you guys, although I fear you'd never finish he job. In the real world most people actually want to make things better. I'm not sure the entrenched interests in Congress do want things to get better. I fear they like it this way because it brings in more money.
One thing that David Brooks did not talk about is the stress on leadership to deliver, or maintain office, due to the economic climate. America was the land of plenty when there were lots of natural resources to plunder, immigrants to exploit, cheap energy, little competition and open markets. As evolution has taught us, all systems tighten up in time.
Whether the Republican Party actually has much substance to bring to the table or the Democrat's hubris is worse, both are primarily owned by special interests. The rise of false prophets speaks to the gullibility of the masses to simple fixes and the sorry state of the union. I see the frustration of the Tea Baggers but fear mob rule under a keen manipulator. As a Jewish atheist, I have no illusions as to being singled out as a villain and no hope of divine intervention. My only solace is that I am sure there is no hell.
We are in the era of the party line vote. I wonder if Glenn Beck still has his bong.
I really like and agree with David Brooks in just about everything he says this column. The confluence of technologies involving communications and information have led to a culture of immediate expectations of results. 200 years ago it took 2 months to get a message to Europe. 100 years ago it took days to get from Chicago to Washington. Taking the long view was the only view we had. Now we look at the world in terms of minutes and hours rather than in days, weeks and months. "We want what we want and we want it right the f*** now! If you can't get it for me I'll go someplace else." This encourages quick fixes which may have catastrophic long term consequences.
Gerrymandering is a huge problem. However, I think it's the result of an even bigger problem - a lazy, indifferent, uninformed, and ignorant electorate. As long as Americans let the country be run by the small number of right and left wing ideologues that are actually interested, this is what we'll get.
Dennis,
As a 67' WGH grad, I'm happy that you've chosen to put your comments about congress on your blog. You are completely correct that we are no longer looked at as the people represented, we are simply a way for the 535 to maintain their way of life and ignore what is going on in their district. With only around 60% of eligible voters casting their choice in the last election, most of the elected like it this way, they know who votes. Who knows what would happen if an additional 20-30% showed up at election time.
John -- always great to have another Panther on board. That for your comment and welcome to the DB.
DB,your comments could have stopped at the not being represented part. Forget all the political games and get to how to make all elected officals accountable.
I believe the answer is in todays electronics. Phone calls,letters & emails with citizens wishes & opinions can be collected and recorded. Television and radio can announce bills before congress. Before a lawmaker can make law or say he speaks for the American people he must gather this info and act accordingly. Represntative government.
During election years these records of public desires can be refered to and help determine just how much that congress person did represent their communities.
I'm also in favor of: changing election day to Sunday, requiring voting, and having citizen who dont vote as a political comment be required to state so on a ballot.
Til then I suggest that every election we simply vote in someone new,everytime.
We would not have listened to our parents if they told us pot would cause us to become Glenn Beck. When they told us that masturbation caused blindness,our response was that we would stop when we needed glasses. I saw Glenn Beck on TV once. He was actually crying about our country and the problems we face. It seemed so insincere that I have not watched him again. I put him in the Keith Olbermann category.
G -- I knew I could count on you for a novel idea or two. I like Sunday voting.
Woody -- I agree. Beck and Olberman are a like type. Self-righteous and emotional. Nice combo.
Woody, with Lasik, there is no need to stop!
Post a Comment