DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA

Democracy in America

Democracy in America

The United States is, indeed, a republic, not a democracy. Accurately defined, a democracy is a form of government in which the people decide policy matters directly--through town hall meetings or by voting on ballot initiatives and referendums. A republic, on the other hand, is a system in which the people choose representatives who, in turn, make policy decisions on their behalf. The Framers of the Constitution were altogether fearful of pure democracy. By popular usage, however, the word "democracy" come to mean a form of government in which the government derives its power from the people and is accountable to them for the use of that power. In this sense the United States might accurately be called a democracy. However, there are examples of "pure democracy" at work in the United States today that would probably trouble the Framers of the Constitution if they were still alive to see them. Many states allow for policy questions to be decided directly by the people by voting on ballot initiatives or referendums. (Initiatives originate with, or are initiated by, the people while referendums originate with, or are referred to the people by, a state's legislative body.) That the Constitution does not provide for national ballot initiatives or referendums is indicative of the Framers' opposition to such mechanisms. They were not confident that the people had the time, wisdom or level-headedness to make complex decisions, such as those that are often presented on ballots on election day. (Gill 2000)

Today, politicians are not usually directly bribed by political contributors or moneyed interests. Research does not support the idea that specific votes in Congress are directly determined by campaign contributions. What wealthy citizens and moneyed interests do gain from their big contributions is influence over who runs for office and a hearing from politicians and government officials once they are in positions of authority. Access for the few can thereby crowd out attention to the many.Money is the oxygen of today's elections, given the reliance of candidates on high-priced consultants and expensive media advertisements. The principal problem is where the money comes from and the influence it buys. Big contributors have the power to discourage or perhaps suffocate unfriendly candidates by denying them early or consistent funding. After the election, moreover, government officials need information to do their jobs, and research shows that big contributors earn the privilege of regularly meeting with policy-makers in their offices. Money buys the opportunity to present self-serving information or raise some problems for attention rather than others.Adding to their greater voice through other modes of participation, generous contributors attend countless rounds of fund-raisers. They enjoy the privilege of building relationships with government officials who can vigorously undertake a host of helpful, low-profile actions — inserting a rider into an omnibus bill, expediting the scheduling of a bill that has been languishing in committee, or making sure that threatening regulatory legislation receives minimal funding for implementation.28 Equally important, legislators can decide to pay more ...