{"product_id":"9781943028993","title":"Political Fix: How Should We Get American Politics Back on Track?","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe view that something is amiss in American government is now widely shared. \"We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years,\" say scholars Tomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein, \"and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven some elected officials acknowledge they have a problem. \"We need to change the way we do business,\" says Tom Udall, a Democratic senator from New Mexico. \"Right now, we have gridlock. We have delay. We have obstruction, and we don't have any accountability.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe troubles facing American politics are varied and complex. Observers point to a wide range of developments that, if left unchecked, are likely to further weaken the effectiveness of government. These include: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe flood of corporate money into American political campaigns. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe growing influence of lobbyists and special interest groups. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe increasing polarization and rancor of our political discourse. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStructural impediments, such as current redistricting laws that limit ballot choices and skew election results. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \"permanent campaign\" that encourages lawmakers to focus on short-term gains instead of long-term solutions. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical leaders acting in their own interests rather than serving the public good. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe disengagement of ordinary Americans who turn away from politics in disgust rather than getting involved and making their voices heard. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis issue guide presents three options for consideration: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreak the grip of special interests\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe key to addressing gridlock and dysfuntion in government is to rein in special interests and curb the influence of big money. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncrease responsibility\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur best hope of fixing American politics is to restore individual responsibility in communities and at every level of government. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFix the mechanisms of politics \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe mechanisms of government are no longer responsive to the will of the people. We need major structural changes to make the system work as it was intended to.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Kettering Foundation","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47167781961968,"sku":"9781943028993","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781943028993_p0.jpg?v=1763756910","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781943028993","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}