Our legislative process is broken. We’re deciding some of the most important issues of our day not based on what’s best for the country, or on careful deliberation, but based on what terms can possibly survive the shredding machine of our divided Congress as it lurches past its self-imposed deadlines. We are not making the best laws we can, and our children are going to pay the price in higher taxes and reduced benefits. Should we just throw up our hands in despair? Or should we roll up our sleeves and do something about it? My top priority for 2013 is political reform. At every step of the process, from the gerrymandering of our electoral districts to the way we fund elections to the way the minority is blocked from introducing legislation in both houses, our democracy has become anti-democratic. It’s too prone to corruption by special interests and polarized dysfunction. I will convene a group of elder statesmen — including political scientists and former members of Congress from both parties — to recommend a package of reforms that will stop the madness. A great nation must have a way to pass good laws.Jonathan Haidt last visited Moyers & Company to talk about how conservatives and liberals see the world. Watch video »
Haidt is a professor of social psychology at the University of Virginia and the author of The Righteous Mind. His current research focuses on the moral foundations of politics and on ways liberals and conservatives can move beyond the culture wars and engage in more civil forms of politics and discourse.
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The special interests that have the strongest influence on legislation appear to be the interests of the largest and wealthiest corporations. This has not been well-covered by most of our news media, which are owned by or share the interests of many of these large corporations. This may be obvious to many people and it was well-known long before I began to realize it. Based on what I have read or heard many people say, however, the awareness of the influence of big money on policy is not as widespread as it should be for the majority of Americans to make democracy work in their favor. Elected politicians vote for policies that help enrich the richest among us while framing their votes in a context to appeal to the average voter.
http://twitter.com/Prof_W_ Prof W
Funny. As a former liberal turned conservative, I would think that Haidt feels well represented by the dominant GOP House and the dominant GOP Lite (aka Democratic) Senate, which are playing the same kinds of games and are both fronts for their 1% corporate sponsors.
People who really care about humanity and equity are not represented by this President nor this Congress. It’s time for a new Progressive third party to represent the 99%.
Steve
Money rules . . . period! This has to be stopped first and foremost, then we can start addressing the other issues that need to change in our government. Citizens United is a joke and must be repealed. There is one and only one issue constantly on the minds of all of our so-called representatives, getting re-elected. Let’s ease their minds a bit by instituting term limits on all and then switch them all over to Social Security and medicare for their retirement benefits so they can begin to appreciate what “the people” are going through instead of just the 1%. Then lets permanently close the revolving door between our members of Congress and all the corporate lobbying firms that provide their re-election financing and then provide huge salaries when the members of Congress retire and go to work for those they once regulated. One more joke on We the People. How long are we going to put up with this? This is not Democracy as our forefathers intended. We all need to wake up and demand changes or we will have wasted 237 years of hard work and human sacrifice.
Steve
Money Rules . . . period! Citizens United is a joke . . on us and must be repealed and soon. Members of Congress only have one thought constantly in mind . . . getting re-elected. Let’s ease their mind a bit by establishing strict term limits on all of them. Then let’s switch them all over to Social Security and medicare for their retirement years, so they appreciate and identify with what “the people” must deal with instead of just the 1%. Then let’s permanently close the revolving door between retired members of Congress and the lobbying firms and corporate interests that fund their election campaigns. The current process is a joke and one big conflict of interest.
Let’s not waste 237 years of hard work and human sacrifice. This current dysfunction and bought system of government is not what our forefathers had in mind, so let’s change it and NOW!
Reddoor2
You’ve got my vote!!!
“At every step of the process, from the gerrymandering of our electoral districts to the way we fund elections to the way the minority is blocked from introducing legislation in both houses, our democracy has become anti-democratic. It’s too prone to corruption by special interests and polarized dysfunction. I will convene a group of elder statesmen — including political scientists and former members of Congress from both parties — to recommend a package of reforms that will stop the madness. A great nation must have a way to pass good laws.”
http://www.facebook.com/gilles.marin Gilles Marin
Change will not come from the current top. We need to feed the new roots to come up with new tops!
JL
Gerrymandering is the linchpin. If you outlaw that, all the other progressive goals will be attainable, but as long as Conservatives are immune to the wrath of the voters, nothing will ever change.
Anonymous
You capitalized ‘progressive’! lol
You also started with ‘People who really care about humanity and equity…’
You also use a moniker suggesting you’re a college teacher!
So objective, sir!
- Marine
Anonymous
“As a former liberal turned conservative,… It’s time for a new Progressive third party to represent the 99%.” BWHAHAHHAAHHAHA!!!!
