This is from Garrison Keillor’s short program, “The Writer’s Almanac”:*It’s the birthday of writer Alexis de Tocqueville (books by this author), born in Paris (1805). He was 25 years old when the French government sent him to America to study the prison system. He spent nine months touring towns and cities and taking notes. A few years later, he published his famous book, Democracy in America (1835).
During his tour, the aristocratic Tocqueville was impressed by the fact that American Democracy actually worked. He wrote: “There is one thing which America demonstrates invincibly, and of which I had been in doubt up till now: it is that the middle classes can govern a state. I do not know if they would come out with credit from thoroughly difficult political situations. But they are adequate for the ordinary run of society. In spite of their petty passions, their incomplete education and their vulgar manners, they clearly can provide practical intelligence, and that is found to be enough.”*In 1835, Americans could make democracy work. 180 years later, with all of our technology, and all of our ability to communicate rapidly with one another, the two party oligarchy no longer serves the electorate. The founders thought political service would be short and a duty rather than a career. Politicians have not only turned their offices into tenured positions, but they have granted themselves the best ‘retirement’ benefits in the nation. No middle class job offers so much pay for so little hours and such generous benefits for so little time working in a job. Politicians take those benefits and most go to work in some capacity for the donors for whom they actually served.The point is this – Politicians, lobbyists, SuperPACs, and corporate media is able to do this by keeping us fighting and arguing with each other. They distract us from the harm done by politicians. Our candidates run on the platform of- no matter how bad you think I am, I’m better than THAT candidate! And we have nearly no control of the choices we are offered. The most qualified and best suited people for these jobs are too intelligent, or too poorly financed to run for office. It would seem that another writer was correct when he wrote, “the first disqualifier for public office is wanting the job.”I wonder what Mr. Tocqueville would think of our democracy now.Respectfully,C.
This is from Garrison Keillor’s short program, “The Writer’s Almanac”:*It’s the birthday of writer Alexis de Tocqueville (books by this author), born in Paris (1805). He was 25 years old when the French government sent him to America to study the prison system. He spent nine months touring towns and cities and taking notes. A few years later, he published his famous book, Democracy in America (1835).
During his tour, the aristocratic Tocqueville was impressed by the fact that American Democracy actually worked. He wrote: “There is one thing which America demonstrates invincibly, and of which I had been in doubt up till now: it is that the middle classes can govern a state. I do not know if they would come out with credit from thoroughly difficult political situations. But they are adequate for the ordinary run of society. In spite of their petty passions, their incomplete education and their vulgar manners, they clearly can provide practical intelligence, and that is found to be enough.”*In 1835, Americans could make democracy work. 180 years later, with all of our technology, and all of our ability to communicate rapidly with one another, the two party oligarchy no longer serves the electorate. The founders thought political service would be short and a duty rather than a career. Politicians have not only turned their offices into tenured positions, but they have granted themselves the best ‘retirement’ benefits in the nation. No middle class job offers so much pay for so little hours and such generous benefits for so little time working in a job. Politicians take those benefits and most go to work in some capacity for the donors for whom they actually served.The point is this – Politicians, lobbyists, SuperPACs, and corporate media is able to do this by keeping us fighting and arguing with each other. They distract us from the harm done by politicians. Our candidates run on the platform of- no matter how bad you think I am, I’m better than THAT candidate! And we have nearly no control of the choices we are offered. The most qualified and best suited people for these jobs are too intelligent, or too poorly financed to run for office. It would seem that another writer was correct when he wrote, “the first disqualifier for public office is wanting the job.”I wonder what Mr. Tocqueville would think of our democracy now.Respectfully,C.