The Parties Versus the People
How to Turn Republicans and Democrats Into Americans
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- R$ 5,90
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- R$ 5,90
Descrição da editora
“An urgent and engaging look at how American politics have become the founding fathers’ worst nightmare” (The Daily Beast).
America’s political system is dysfunctional. We know it, yet the problem seems intractable—after every election, voters discover yet again that political “leaders” are simply quarreling in a never-ending battle between the two warring tribes.
As a former congressman, Mickey Edwards witnessed firsthand how important legislative battles can devolve into struggles not over principle but over party advantage. He offers graphic examples of how this problem has intensified and reveals how political battles have become nothing more than conflicts between party machines. In this critically important book, he identifies exactly how our political and governing systems reward intransigence, discourage compromise, and undermine our democracy—and describes exactly what must be done to banish the negative effects of partisan warfare from our political system and renew American democracy.
“Overcoming tribalism and knee-jerk partisanship is the central challenge of our time. Mickey Edwards shows why and how in this fascinating book filled with sensible suggestions.” —Walter Isaacson, New York Times–bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci
“Many Americans, whether Democrats, Republicans, independent or otherwise, would welcome a few more like [Edwards] in office.” —The Boston Globe
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Frustration with bipartisan politics is given lucid voice and direction in former congressman Edwards's (Reclaiming Conservatism) latest: an examination of how the nation can move past party affiliation in order to move forward. The electoral system has changed, Edwards argues, into a self-perpetuating political machine with "permanent factions whose primary focus is on gaining and retaining political power." Moving toward something more representative of a community's beliefs would allow legislators to think outside of party affiliation and grapple with the issues individually. In a nation where an increasing number of voters register as independent, and many citizens feel misrepresented by both parties, this is a wise choice. In 10 steps, Edwards illustrates how the government can release partisanship's political chokehold on the system. Edwards's suggestions include ensuring that elected officials don't sign special interest pledges to gain party support before to election; changing the seating arrangement in the Senate and eliminating the aisle separating Democrats from Republicans in both Houses; and arranging bipartisan retreats to ensure cross pollination between party members. The book provides compelling hope for reform.
