First published 2012
Political bitterness has invaded every corner of the American political system. Congress sits paralyzed while approval ratings hit historic lows. The nation's two major parties have abandoned their history of working together, putting constitutional democracy itself at risk. The Republican Party has transformed into an insurgent force, embracing ideological extremism while rejecting compromise and opposing established social and economic policies. Congressional experts Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein diagnose two critical problems pushing Congress and the United States toward institutional breakdown. First, political parties now fight like parliamentary adversaries within a system that makes majority rule nearly impossible. Second, both parties engage in tribal combat, but they share unequal blame. The political system suffers from what the authors term "asymmetric polarization," with Republicans blocking any Democratic success regardless of consequences. Dysfunction stems from deep political shifts, a coarsened culture, and partisan media. The authors reject simple fixes, instead presenting multiple reform ideas. They support greater citizen involvement and restructuring the House and Senate while dismissing independent candidates as solutions. They urge media and voters to address real causes of breakdown rather than simply replacing politicians each election. Until voters reward problem solving and punish obstruction, American democracy faces serious threat.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction
Setting: United States
Period: 21st Century
225 pages · Hardcover · Basic Books