It’s government dysfunction, stupid.

by | Jan 21, 2016 | 2016 Elections, Editor's Blog, National Politics | 12 comments

It’s election year and pundits across the political spectrum are speculating about what will drive the electorate next November. In 2014 in North Carolina, the Kay Hagan campaign almost made the election about public education and almost bucked a national GOP wave. However, in October, ISIS and Ebola drove fear in the hearts of Americans and Obama’s seemingly inadequate response shifted the tide to give Thom Tillis the narrowest of victories.

So what will it be this year?

A month ago, the pundits were sure it would be about terrorists. The attack in Paris and shooting in San Bernardino scared Americans and the Syrian refugee crisis drove much the media’s attention. Today, the incidents seem to have faded some in the collective public consciousness.  But we’re just one attack away from fear and loathing again and an attack next fall could hurt Democrats.

Immigration still looms large in some people’s minds, but a story today notes that the number of undocumented immigrants is shrinking, not growing. While immigration will certainly be a topic during the year, it probably won’t drive the debate except for those who want to deport everybody and have the Mexicans build a wall.

The wars in the Middle East could grab the public’s attention at any time, particularly if ISIS gets any more of a foothold. However, we’re a war-weary country and, except for those periods when terrorists attack westerners, most people don’t really want to send American soldiers to die in large numbers in countries they couldn’t find on a map. Besides, the situation in Syria and Iraq is so complicated, most people don’t know who are bad guys and who are good guys.

More often than not, the economy drives the election. Barack Obama is touting the longest streak of job growth in recent history but the stock market is plunging everyday. In North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory is touting the Carolina Comeback, but statistics show that it’s weak at best. Republicans at the state level crowing about the economy may inadvertently help Democrats, while Democrats carping about the state’s slow recovery may tell the story the national GOP is trying to make.

In reality, we have an uneven recovery. Upper middle class and wealthy people seem to be doing just fine, but lower middle class folks are getting left behind. Wages are flat and benefits are down. Too many families are still carrying too much debt. Higher education is getting prohibitively expensive and students coming out of school can’t find jobs that provide enough income enough to pay off their loans.

In Washington, both parties are spending more time trying score political points than solve any of these problems. Our biggest problem is a dysfunctional political system that’s driven more by special interests than the needs of average citizens. Politicians are more worried about offending donors and getting re-elected than making progress. That’s a problem that elections were designed to fix and that’s the issue that should drive the electorate in 2016. Making government work again should be the top priority, regardless of what big money interests and entrenched politicians want us to believe.

12 Comments

  1. Mark Prak, Raleigh, NC

    I love it. Losers and partisans always want to attribute their losses to strategy and tactics. It’s never possible, in the eyes of a loser/partisan, that the electorate actually favored the policy positions of the person who won. It’s also amusing when the author who chooses to attribute such electoral failures to strategy and tactics is a political consultant.

    • bettywhite

      Can you give us your definition of “partisan”? And do you consider yourself one?

  2. Norma Munn

    I think one word describes what is driving most of this election (so far) and that is fear. The recession left scars, even for those who have somewhat recovered, and it takes very little to resurface that anxiety. For some that anxiety is also accompanied by great anger. The latter I fully understand, but it drives me to agree that a functioning government in DC is essential, not people who simply want to tear down in the name of smaller government.

    There are good ideas out there for addressing major social and/or fiscal problems of this country. All require intelligent receptivity from us and the so-called political leaders — a trait sadly lacking in most current GOP candidates and many already in Congress and state houses. (That was not always the case, despite differences in ideology.)

    Are we really less capable as a nation than those who defeated the Great Depression, or those American who were critical to winning WWII, who fought and passed Civil Rights legislation with an historic impact — to name only a few of this country’s accomplishments. None were the result of only individual action; all required both government effort and a social commitment from the citizens of this country.

    Why or when did we become a nation of “No, we can’t do that.”

  3. Progressive Wing

    Here’s my plan to end the gridlock and dysfunction that Thomas so nicely describes:

    -end the practice of gerrymandering. Pass a federal law that requires bi-partisan state commissions to delineate districts, at least for federal seats, if not all seats;
    -pass federal legislation that promulgates rules/limits on donor contributions (effectively ending the practice of bribery created by Citizens United) and on candidate campaign spending;
    -establish terms limits on all federal elective offices The POTUS’ position has a term limit, so should House and Senate positions;
    -restrict lobbying at the state and federal level. Lobbying contact, whether by corporations, special interest groups, or singular private individuals, should only be allowed only a specific number of times, only at specified venues, and only at specific times of year when Congress is in session. Additionally,corporations that go the tax inversion route by moving their HQs to other countries should be banned from lobbying Congress or state elected officials, from making any political donations, and from receiving any federal grants or subsidies.
    -increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour.
    -and finally, I like a spin-off on Warren Buffet’s notion to end the deficit and, by extension, getting Congress focused on addressing the major issues facing the US. Pass a law that makes all sitting members of Congress ineligible for re-election if there is a budget deficit of more than three percent of GDP, and if appropriations for the forthcoming year are not passed by Oct 31st. A proviso of this law would require that income taxes be raised to cover any annual budget deficit.

    • Troy

      I could live with all of those. One provisio on #2 if you would allow me.

      Since telling people (corporations) is illegal via that landmark piece of law known as Citizens United, instead, how about we limit the amount the candidate can spend, can be spent on his or her behalf, and any of the issues or statements the candidate makes, per election cycle. Cap it at like $50,000. So while there is no violation of the law in Citizens, some control is exerted. After all, one doesn’t have to be a candidate and if one so chooses to run, well, then there are rules.

      Like you said, that should put a dent in buying politicians and garnering political favor through campaign contributions.

      • Lee Mortimer

        There’s little problem called Buckley v. Valeo (1976), when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down limits on how much candidates can spend on their campaigns.

    • Mooser

      I used to be against term limits for congress, but now I have changed my mind. These people should not be allowed to stay there for 40 years. What is the ideal term limit, though? 4 terms (8 years) for the House and 12 for the Senate? How does that sound?

  4. Ebrun

    Kay Hagan tried to make the GOP-controlled NC General Assembly the focus of her campaign. However, she and Tillis were not running for the NC Senate, but for the U.S. Senate where national and international issues are the focus. Apparently, NC voters are not as parochial as some pundits and consultants seem to think.

    • Evan Brunson

      Oh sure, we understand. Every time a Democrat losses an election, it’s those ‘dumb’ voters who support Republicans and those lazy Democrats too uninspired to vote.The Democratic process is often just not compatible with liberalism. If only the U.S. could emulate the political process in Venezuela, progressives would be in total control.

  5. Walt de Vries, Ph.D.

    I agree with your analysis except on the Hagan campaign. Senator Hagan lost it because she replayed Libby Dole’s campaign, relying on Washington consultants who were more interested in tv production, time-buying and collecting huge fees rather than getting-out-the-vote. Ironic, isn’t it. Had her campaign had a truly North Carolina focus (staff, strategy and GOTV) she would have won.
    .

  6. larry

    My question is Mr Mills, since you are a candidate for the US House rather than going on about what is wrong , pointing out the most obvious of problems what is your detailed plan for change. Most everyone understands the problems, or at least some of them, but what most people…voters..don’t seem to be hearing on how change will come about. There will always be right wing zealots in this country…always have been and if they are driving the conversation and therefore the policy it is because they are now, as they always have been, the big mouths. Until folks like you can define clearly and succinctly the solution, the time to make it happen and the cost and most importantly what it will mean to them. Until then the right has the megaphone. Based on this post it seems you have surrendered already so why are you running?
    And finally Kay Hagan was not defeated by e.bola or Isis. She was defeated my running a campaign that simply had a one note song and did not quickly push back and offer solutions
    or respond effectively. Kay Hagan was not defeated by Tom Tillis but by Kay Hagan. Rather than buying into the excuses of her defeat maybe you would be well served to take note and have an action plan when the news tries to take you down. Plan and Pre-Plan sir.

  7. Cosmic janitor

    For someone I respect as an intelligent thinker, you sure do buy into the plutocratic system. I would challenge almost all your points here but suffice it to say, if the US is responsible for the creation of ISIS – with the CIA arming, training and directing it, US. air power advancing its gains and the US. stealing Iraqi oil from this source (two miles of tankers sitting off the Texas coast full of Iraqi oil with no where to go) and very suspect terrorist attacks orchestrated conveniently inside the US. – just like 1930’s Germany, then if this is the index determining our election outcomes we are in a hopeless situation. The reality is, rigged voting machines, along with a compromised right leaning media, are what is turning this country red. The extremist republican base is less than 39% of the voting public, so how can that be driving a right-wing takeover of this country ? Stop peddling republican spin!

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