,! ,FAILURE ( ,GUN ,LEGISLATION 9 ! ,S5ATE ,TELLS ,US WE ,NE$ TO ,FIGUE WE'VE NOT ONLY REA*$ ! PO9T :]E NOT ONLY DOES ! WILL ( ! ,AM]ICAN PEOPLE HAS ALMO/ NO BE>+ ON GOV]NANCE1 BUT MO/ ( \R OP9ION-MAK]S SEE LITTLE REASON :Y IT %\LD HAVE4 ,NO ONE CAN D5Y !RE IS AN 9CREAS+ DISP>ITY BETWE5 :AT ! ,AM]ICAN PUBLIC SAYS IT WANTS1 & :AT ! POLITICAL CLASS FEEL !Y %\LD EV5 HAVE TO TALK AB\T4 ,AT ! HEIE4 ,9 ,WA%+TON1 & 9 ! NATIONAL M$IA1 IT WAS NOT EV5 SE5 AS WOR?Y ( DEBATE4 ,ON ! O!R SIDE1 OV]:ELM+ MAJORITIES EV5 ( ,REPUBLICANS1 LET ALONE ,DEMOCRATS1 MAKE CLE> ! LA/ ?+ WE %\LD BE TALK+ AB\T IS CUTT+ SOCIAL SECURITY B5EFITS1 YET WE HAVE A ,PRESID5T & POLITICAL CLASS ?AT--DESPITE ! LACK ( ANY IMM$IATE CRISIS --SEEM ALMO/ OBSESSIVELY DET]M9$ TO FIGURE \T AN EXCUSE TO DO SO4 ,ON ONE LEVEL WE ALL KN[ :Y ?IS HAPP5S4 ,LOBBYI/S = P[]FUL MONEY$ 9T]E/S CONTROL ! T]MS ( DEBATE4 ,ANY PROPOSAL W\LD BE /RONGLY OPPOS$ BY1 SAY1 ! ,GUN ,LOBBY1 OR ! ,HEAL? ,9SURANCE ,LOBBY1 IS SIMPLY NOT CONSID]$ S]I\S1 NO MATT] H[ MU* POPUL> SUPPORT IT HAS4 ,BUT :AT'S REALLY />TL+ IS ! 9DIFF]5CE ) :I* ?IS SITUATION IS GREET$ BY ,AM]ICA'S TALK+ CLASSES1 EV5 ?OSE :O REPRES5T !MSELVES AS 7& 9 MANY CASES AT LEA/1 ACTUALLY DO S9C]ELY SEE !MSELVES TO BE7 ! GU>DIANS ( ,AM]ICA'S DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS4 ,EA* NEW \TRAGE IS GREET$ ) AT BE/ A M9OR FLURRY ( CONC]N1 USUALLY FOLL[$ BY SOME WI/FUL COMPLA9TS AB\T ! 0DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE0 9 ,WA%+TON--COMPLA9TS :I*1 IF !Y LEAD TO ANY?+1 LEAD ONLY TO PLEAS = POLITICIANS TO /OP FITIES & ELIM9ATE POPUL> 9PUT 9TO POLITICS 5TIRELY4 ,EV5 FUNDAM5TAL /RUCTURAL ISSUES >E %RUGG$ AWAY4 ,POLITICIANS & J\RNALI/S :O REGUL>LY HOLD \T ,AM]ICAN DEMOCRACY AS A BEACON TO ! WORLD NEV] SEEM TO REFLECT ON :AT ! WORLD IS SUPPOS$ TO MAKE ( ! FACT ?AT1 SAY1 #b_/#c ( ! ,AM]ICAN PUBLIC :O DON'T HAPP5 TO LIVE 9 SW+ /ATES EFFECTIVELY HAVE NO SAY 9 :O GETS TO BE ! ,PRESID5T1 OR ?AT WE CAN HAVE ,H\SE ELECTIONS1 AS WE DID 9 #b#a#b1 :]E A MAJORITY ( VOT]S CAN *OOSE C&IDATES FROM ONE P>TY & WAT* ! O!R P>TY W9 ! ELECTION ANYWAY4 ,ONE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE ?AT = MO/ ( \R (FICIAL OP9ION-MAK]S1 ! WORD 0DEMOCRACY0 NO LONG] HAS ANY?+1 REALLY1 TO DO ) POPUL> WILL4 ,IT REF]S TO A /RUCTURE ( AU?ORITY4 0,DEMOCRACY0 = !M MEANS ?AT ELABORATE >*ITECTURE ( *ECKS & BALANCES CREAT$ BY ! ,FRAM]S ( ! ,CON/ITUTION1 ! FACT ?AT ELECTIONS1 APPO9TM5TS1 CONGRESSIONAL VOTES & JUDICIAL & EXECUTIVE DECISIONS TAKE PLACE ACCORD+ TO E/ABLI%$ LAWS1 BYLAWS1 TRADITIONS1 & PROC$URES4 ,IT MEANS FOLL[+ ! RULES LAID D[N BY ! ,F\ND+ ,FA!RS & !IR LAT]1 DULY AU?ORIZ$1 9T]PRET]S4 ,H5CE 9 ! EV5T ( A CRISIS1 ! PRESS FEELS ?AT IT'S FIR/ LOYALTY IS NOT TO :AT ! PUBLIC WANTS1 OR EV5 REALLY TO ! FACTS1 BUT ABOVE ALL1 TO MA9TA9+ PUBLIC FAI? 9 ! LEGITIMACY ( :AT !Y CONSID] 0DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS40 ,?IS CAME \T V]Y CLE>LY DUR+ ! DISPUTE OV] ! ,BU%-,GORE ELECTION ( #b4 ,NO ONE CONTE/$ ?AT ,GORE WAS ! *OICE ( ! MAJORITY ( ,AM]ICAN VOT]S4 ,IT WAS NOT AT ALL CLE> ?AT ,BU% WAS ! *OICE ( ! MAJORITY ( ,FLORIDA VOT]S 7& AS IT LAT] TURN$ \T1 HE WAS NOT47 ,BUT AFT] A ,SUPREME ,C\RT DECISION 9 :I* A MAJORITY ( JU/ICES B>ELY DISGUIS$ ! FACT ?AT !Y W]E 9T]V5+ TO /OP ! BALLOT-C\NT+ ON ! BASIS ( !IR [N P]SONAL POLITICAL PREF]5CES1 ! M$IA 9/ANTLY DECL>$ ! ISSUE OV]--MANY OP5LY ADMITT+ ?AT !Y FELT PO9T+ \T ?AT ! ,C\RT HAD EFFECTIVELY 5GAG$ 9 A JUDICIAL C\P W\LD BE IRRESPONSIBLE1 S9CE IT W\LD UND]M9E POPUL> FAI? 9 ! 9TEGRITY ( 0DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS40 ,I,I3 ,D,E,M,O,C,R,A,C,Y ,W,A,S ,N,E,V,] ,A ,G,I,F,T3 ,W,E ,T,O,O,K ,I,T ,ALL NATIONS1 ALL SOCIETIES1 HAVE !IR F\ND+ MY?S4 ,BACK 9 ! #a#h? C5TURY1 ,5LIE 0A NATION ( LAWS & NOT ( M510 & ?AT ?IS 9/ITUTIONAL /RUCTURE HAS BE5 ! BASIS ( \R DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT1 & \R RIATION ( ,9DEP5D5CE OR ,CON/ITUTION DOES IT SAY ANY?+ AB\T ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES BE+ A DEMOCRACY4 ,9 FACT1 M5 LIKE ,ADAMS1 ,MADISON1 & EV5 ,JEFF]SON W]E /AUN*LY OPPOS$ TO DEMOCRACY1 :I* !Y DEF9$ AS 0! P[]S ( GOV]NM5T EX]CIS$ BY ! PEOPLE0--:E!R DIRECTLY ?R\< POPUL> ASSEMBLIES1 OR BY EXT5SION1 ?R\< ! DIRECT ELECTION ( REPRES5TATIVES CLOSELY B\ND TO ! POPUL> WILL4 ,MO/ W]E ALSO QUITE EXPLICIT AB\T !IR REASONS4 ,H[ C\LD WE POSSIBLY HAVE MAJORITY RULE1 WROTE ,JOHN ,ADAMS1 9 A C\NTRY :]E ONLY ONE OR TWO MILLION PEOPLE [N ANY SIGNIFICANT AM\NT ( PROP]TY1 & #i MILLION DO NOT8 ,IT C\LD ONLY L$ TO ! CANCELLATION ( DEBTS & EXPROPRIATION ( ! WEAL?Y4 ,ONE NE$ ONLY GLANCE AT ! OP5+ REM>KS ( ! ,CON/ITUTIONAL ,CONV5TION ( #a#g#h#i1 DELIV]$ BY ,GEORGE ,WA%+TON PROTEGE ,$MUND ,R&OLPH1 !N ,GOV]NOR ( ,VIRG9IA1 TO GET A S5SE ( :Y !Y FELT ?AT SY/EM ( *ECKS & BALANCES NE$$ TO BE CREAT$3 ,\R *IEF DANG] >ISES FROM ! DEMOCRATIC P>TS ( \R CON/ITUTIONS4 ,IT IS A MAXIM :I* ,I HOLD 9CONTROV]TIBLE1 ?AT ! P[]S ( GOV]NM5T EX]CIS$ BY ! PEOPLE SWALL[S UP ! O!R BRAN*ES4 ,NONE ( ! CON/ITUTIONS HAVE PROVID$ SUFFICI5T *ECKS AGA9/ ! DEMOCRACY4 ,! FEEBLE ,S5ATE ( ,VIRG9IA IS A PHANTOM4 ,M>YL& HAS A MORE P[]FUL S5ATE1 BUT ! LATE DI/RACTIONS 9 ?AT ,/ATE1 HAVE DISCOV]$ ?AT IT IS NOT P[]FUL 5\<4 ,! *ECK E/ABLI%$ 9 ! CON/ITUTION ( ,NEW ,YORK & ,MASSA*USETTS IS YET A /RONG] B>RI] AGA9/ DEMOCRACY1 BUT !Y ALL SEEM 9SUFFICI5T4 ,9/EAD ( ! DEMOCRACY ( ANCI5T ,A!NS1 ! NEW /ATE WAS TO BE A ,REPUBLIC1 MODEL$ ON ,ROME1 :I*1 ! F\ND]S 7BE+ GOOD CLASSICAL S*OL>S7 >GU$ HAD ! P]FECT BALANCE BETWE5 MON>*Y 7! ,PRESID5T WAS TO BE AN ELECT$ MON>*71 ! OLIG>*IC 7! ,S5ATE1 :I* WAS TO BE COMPOS$ ( WEAL?Y L&HOLD]S71 & A ,CONGRESS ) C>EFULLY LIMIT$ DEMOCRATIC P[]S--L>GELY1 ON ! PR9CIPLE ( 0NO TAXATION )\T REPRES5TATION0 TO H&LE F9ANCE4 ,TRUE P[]1 !Y >GU$1 W\LD BE HELD BY A 0NATURAL >I/OCRACY0 ( $UCAT$ LAWY]S1 DRAWN FROM ! PROP]TI$ CLASSES1 ) ! WEAL? & LEISURE TO SEP>ATE !MSELVES FROM ! BATTL+ 9T]E/S ( ! MASSES & ?9K AB\T ! GREAT] GOOD4 ,AT ?AT TIME1 9 FACT1 ! WORD 0DEMOCRACY0 WAS US$--BY POLITICIANS1 AT LEA/--L>GELY AS A T]M ( ABUSE1 9 FACT ALMO/ 9T]*ANGEABLY ) 0AN>*Y0 OR 0MOB RULE40 ,A FEW RADICALS DID SOMETIMES CALL !MSELVES 0DEMOCRATS10 BUT MA9LY = %OCK VALUE1 9 MU* ! SAME LAT] RADICALS W\LD CALL !MSELVES 0AN>*I/S0 OR 0QUE]S40 ,BUT OV] TIME MORE & MORE DID4 ,BY ! #a#h#cS1 ,&REW ,JACKSON />T$ CALL+ HIMSELF A 0DEMOCRAT0 :5 RUNN+ = (FICE1 & WON1 & BE=E ! DECADE WAS \T1 EV]YONE WAS US+ ! T]M4 ,! ,REPUBLICAN /RUCTURE ?AT WAS CREAT$ TO PREV5T :AT ,WA%+TON ONCE CALL$ 0! HORRORS ( DEMOCRACY0 WAS ITSELF RELABEL$ 0DEMOCRACY0 & WE HAVE BE5 CALL+ ! SY/EM ?AT EV] S9CE4 "9 ,! OBVI\S QUE/ION IS3 ,:Y DID A ONE-TIME T]M ( ABUSE LIKE 0DEMOCRACY0 HAD SU* APPEAL TO ,AM]ICAN F>M]S & ME*ANICS ?AT EV5TUALLY1 EV5 POLITICIANS EV5TUALLY HAD TO />T US+ IT8 ,& :AT DID IT MEAN TO !M8 ,! 5TIRE /ORY HAS YET TO BE TOLD4 ,BUT CLE>LY1 IT HAD SOME?+ TO DO ) ?AT 0DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT0 LAT] CELEBRAT$ BY ,TOCQUEVILLE & ,:ITMAN1 AN IDEAL ( 9DIVIDUAL EQUALITY1 FRE$OM1 & AT LEA/ ! ASPIRATION = =MS POPUL> SELF-GOV]NANCE ?AT WAS R>ELY FULLY REALIZ$1 OR EV51 COMPLETELY >TICULAT$4 ,IT WAS ! DRIV+ =CE BEH9D ! REVOLUTION ITSELF1 ) ITS GREAT POPUL> ASSEMBLIES & MOBILIZATIONS1 & IT L$ TO AN 5DLESS S]IES ( POPUL> MOVEM5TS--9 ! E>LY DAYS ( ! REPUBLIC1 EV5 \TRI AS WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC ELEM5TS 9 \R SY/EM--& !SE DO EXI/--!Y CAN ALMO/ 9V>IABLY BE TRAC$ TO H]E4 ,NORMALLY1 :5 WE ?9K ( ! ,CON/ITUTION AS ! EMBODIM5T ( DEMOCRATIC FRE$OMS1 WE ?9K ABOVE ALL ( ! ,BILL ( ,RI ( \TRI PROBABLY A MAJORITY ( ?OSE ?AT SIGN$ ! DOCUM5T DIDN'T HAVE ! SLIS LAT]1 MO/ ( ! SAME M5 SIGN$ ! ,ALI5 @& ,S$ITION ,ACTS ( #a#g#i#h1 R5D]+ 0FALSE1 SC&AL\S & MALICI\S0 CRITICISMS ( ! NEW GOV]NM5T PUNI%ABLE BY LAW71 BUT GRADUALLY1 POPUL> EMBRACE ( ?OSE PR9CIPLES =C$ ! POLITICIANS TO ACT AS !Y W]E ! V]Y BASIS ( ! ,AM]ICAN IDEAL4 ,! /ORY WAS TO REPEAT TIME AFT] TIME1 EV]Y TIME DEMOCRATIC FRE$OMS EXP&$3 :E!R ) ! EXPANSION ( ! FRAN*ISE1 SUFFRAGE1 ABOLITION1 CIVIL RI SUPPORT OR MORAL CONS5SUS & F9ALLY =C+ ! POLITICIANS1 H[EV] RELUCTANTLY1 TO 9CORPORATE ?OSE NEW MORAL UND]/&+S 9TO ! CON/ITUTIONAL ORD]--AT LEA/ TO SOME EXT5T4 ,= MO/ ( ,AM]ICAN HI/ORY1 ONE C\LD MAKE A CASE ?AT AS A RESULT1 EV5 IF DEMOCRACY REMA9$ AN ASPIRATION1 !RE WAS A BROAD MOVEM5T 9 ITS DIRECTION4 ,! BEG9N+S ( ! ,COLD ,W> M>K$ A MAJOR PU%-BACK 9 ! O!R DIRECTION & AFT] ! '#fS1 PROGRESS BASICALLY GR\ND TO A HALT4 ,I,I,I3 ,! ,C,U,R,S,E ,( ,! ,P,R,(,E,S,S,I,O,N,A,L-,M,A,N,A,G,],I,A,L ,C,L,A,S,S ,PRESID5T ,OBAMA LIKES TO EVOKE ! LANGUAGE & GE/URES ( POPUL> MOBILIZATION4 ,BUT IT'S ALL HOLL[ !AT]4 ,9 REALITY1 ! V]Y FACT ?AT HE CAN DO SO M>KS ! COMPLETION ( ! WORK BEGUN BY ,CL9TON ( PURG+ ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY FROM ANY REMA9+ REMNANTS ( MOVEM5T POLITICS3 ! LANGUAGES & GE/URES HAVE N[ BE5 SO ?OR\KET+ TOOL4 ,MEAN:ILE1 HIS /YLE ( GOV]NM5T IS ALMO/ COMPLETELY TE*NOCRATIC1 ) POLITICS1 9S(> AS IT APPE>S AT ALL 9 NON-ELECTION YE>S1 R$UC$ TO CLOS$-DOOR NEGOTIATIONS BETWE5 P[]FUL 9T]E/ GR\PS4 ,! BATTLES OV] HEAL? C>E IS ! P]FECT ILLU/RATION4 ,!RE W]E NO APPEALS TO L(TY PR9CIPLES1 NO GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION2 9 FACT1 ! ONLY BROAD POPUL> MOBILIZATION WAS BY ! O!R SIDE4 ,9 FACT1 ?IS SEEMS TO BE A REGUL> PATT]N N[4 ,IT IS ! ,RITY4 ,AT ?IS PO9T1 BO? P>TIES REALLY JU/ REPRES5T DIFF]5T FRACTIONS ( ! #a.02 ,WALL ,/REET FUNDS BO?1 BUT :]E ! ,REPUBLICANS >E SUPPORT$ L>GELY BY BUS9ESS1 ESPECIALLY ! EXTRACTIVE 9DU/RIES1 ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY HAS BECOME ?AT ( ! UPP] E*ELONS ( ! PR(ESSIONAL & MANAG]IAL CLASSES3 ( UNIV]SITY ADM9I/RATORS1 MUSEUM BO>D DIRECTORS1 DOCTORS1 LAWY]S1 DESIGN]S & M>KET+ CONSULTANTS4 ,!IR S5SIBILITIES >E PR(\NDLY ANTI-DEMOCRATIC4 ,MO/ ASSUME ORD9>Y ,AM]ICANS >E NOT P>TICUL>LY BRIE BE/ LEFT TO PR(ESSIONALS SU* AS !MSELVES4 ,BUT !Y >E OBSESS$ ) =M4 ,RULES1 PROC$URES1 ETIQUETTE1 RESPECT = 9/ITUTIONAL NORMS1 & ! MA9T5ANCE ( AT LEA/ ! EXT]NAL %[ ( CIVILITY1 >E EV]Y?+ TO SU* PEOPLE2 DIVISIVE 70UNPR(ESSIONAL07 BEHAVIOR ANA!MA EV5 IF IT GETS RESULTS4 ,?AT TOO CAME ?R\< QUITE CLE>LY 9 ! BATTLE OV] HEAL? C>E RE=M4 ,AGA9 & AGA9 WE HE>D POLITICIANS LIKE ,OBAMA DECL>+ ?AT :AT ,AM]ICANS REALLY WANT WAS A *ANGE 9 ! 0DIVISIVE CLIMATE0 9 ,WA%+TON--AS IF :AT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ! AV]AGE WORK+ CLASS S+LE MO!R ( TWO1 DESP]ATE TO 5SURE H] *ILDR5 HAVE ACCESS TO REGUL> M$ICAL *ECKUPS1 IS :E!R POLITICIANS 9 ,WA%+TON >E BE+ NICE TO ONE ANO!R4 ,ONLY TO SOMEONE :O SP5T !IR 5TIRE C>E]S SURR\ND$ BY ELITE PR(ESSIONALS W\LD BE BL9D TO ! OBVI\S3 ?AT MO/ HUMANS 9 SU* A SITUATION W\LD NOT HAVE C>$ LESS IF ,OBAMA HAD P]SONALLY KNEECAPP$ ,JOE ,LIEB]MAN & C\PLE ,REPUBLICAN S5ATORS TO BOOT1 IF IT HAD MEANT EV5 A #d.0 CUT TO !IR D$UCTIBLE4 ,H5CE WIDESPREAD WORK+ CLASS DISGU/ AT ?OSE :O WOO !IR VOTES ON ECONOMIC GR\NDS4 ,AT LEA/ ,REPUBLICANS >E GOAL-ORI5T$--EV5 IF ! GOALS >E NOT !IR [N4 ,SU* S5SIBILITIES DOM9ATE ! M$IA1 AS WELL1 IF = NO O!R REASON ?AN ?AT J\RNALI/S >E !MSELVES HIPLY ,REPUBLICAN 7,REPUBLICAN TALK+ HEADS >E TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE 9T]VIEW$ ON ,C,N,N ?AN ,DEMOCRATS71 ITS =MS & S5SIBILITIES >E ?OSE ( ! PROC$URE-OBSESS$ C5T]-LEFT4 ,9 SU* A WORLD1 IT MAKES P]FECT S5SE TO SEE 0DEMOCRACY0 AS ! GIFT ( 5LI P>TICIPATION AS PROBLEMATIC OR UNIMPORTANT1 & ALMO/ ANY =M ( CORRUPTION AS ACCEPTABLE IF WORK$ \T ?R\< PROP] LEGAL *ANNELS3 :I* IS :Y IT HAS BE5 POSSIBLE TO TURN ! ,U,S POLITICAL SY/EM 9TO ONE ( 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ BRIB]Y BY SIMPLY RELABEL+ BRIBES AS 0FUND-RAIS+0 & 0LOBBY+0 & !N MAK+ MO/ ( !M =MALLY LEGAL1 )\T SIGNIFICANT COMPLA9T4 ,SIMIL>LY IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO SUPPRESS ATTEMPTS TO CREATE OLD-/YLE SOCIAL MOVEM5TS OBJECT+ TO SU* CORRUPTION US+ MILIT>IZ$ =CE ) B>ELY A PEEP FROM ! LIB]AL E/ABLI%M5T4 ,AFT] ALL1 SU* PEOPLE >5'T PLAY+ BY ! RULES4 ,MO/ ,AM]ICANS >E CUT \T ( ! SY/EM 5TIRELY4 ,! FACT ?AT !IR VIEWS ON POLICY ISSUES HAVE BE5 R5D]$ L>GELY IRRELEVANT IS JU/ ! TIP ( ! ICEB]G4 ,MANY >E BECOM+ 9CREAS+LY ALI5AT$ FROM EV5 ! MO/ BASIC 9/ITUTIONS ( SOCIETY4 ,IF BE+ MIDDLE-CLASS MEANS ABOVE ALL HAV+ A S5SE ?AT ! 9/ITUTIONAL /RUCTURE :I* FRAMES ONE'S EXI/5CE --! GOV]NM5T1 S*OOLS1 POLICE1 EV5 F9ANCIAL 9DU/RY-->E1 OR AT LEA/ \DLY SURPRIS+ ?AT1 = ! FIR/ TIME 9 LIV+ MEMORY1 A MAJORITY ( ,AM]ICANS >E TELL+ POLL/]S ?AT !Y NO LONG] CONSID] !MSELVES MIDDLE CLASS4 ,BUT IT LEAVES ! HONE/ OBS]V] WOND]+ 9 :AT S5SE1 PRECISELY1 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES CAN /ILL BE CALL$ A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY4 7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #f? ,M>* #bba FROM ZCOMM4ORG47 ,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,JANU>Y #i1 #bbb 3 ,! ,FAILURE ( ,GUN ,LEGISLATION 9 ! ,S5ATE ,TELLS ,US WE ,NE$ TO ,FI