First published 2010
George Will builds his case that modern Congress has abandoned its constitutional purpose. Lawmakers now treat their legislative duties as campaign opportunities rather than serious policy work. Will demonstrates how the pursuit of reelection has replaced genuine deliberation. Politicians craft bills and cast votes based on polling data and fundraising potential instead of governing principles. The author traces this shift from a functioning legislative branch to a perpetual campaign machine. He proposes term limits as the remedy for this institutional decay. Will contends that forcing regular turnover would restore Congress to its intended role as a deliberative body focused on long-term national interests rather than short-term political gains.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction
Period: 21st-Century
272 pages · Kindle Edition · Free Press