what ‘s gone wrong with democracy? tertulia
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What ‘s gone wrong with Democracy? Tertulia Manuel Puyana Germán Arciniegas Wed. June 4, 2014. What is democracy?. What is democracy?. a. Democracy. Greek: demos (meaning “people”), and kratos (meaning “rule”). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What ‘s gone wrong with
Democracy?
Tertulia
Manuel Puyana
Germán Arciniegas
Wed. June 4, 2014
What is democracy?
What is democracy?
• a
Greek: demos (meaning “people”), and kratos (meaning “rule”)
Democracy
Key elements to democracy
1
2
3
4
A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections
Active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life - INFORMATION
Protection of the human rights of all citizens
A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens
Is the US a democracy?
REPUBLIC
DEMOCRACY
Direct governmentPeople decide policy matters
directly Rule by the Majority
hall meetings or ballot initiatives
Representativegovernment
Rule by Law (constitution)
The U.S. is a constitution-basedfederal republic
with a strong democratic tradition(CIA World Factbook).
A constitution-based federal republic is actually quite similar to a direct democracy.
"A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the
power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men."
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
Democracy prior to Yr. 2000
• Athens > Eng. Bill of rights > US 1788 + Fr. rights of man > 19th Cent.
• In 1941 only 11 democracies were left!• After 1950:– Germany – India– Decolonization (Africa and Asia)– Autocratic to democracy = Greece, Spain, Argentina,
Brazil, Chile– Collapse of the Soviet Union– in 2000 120 countries = 63% where democracies
Democracy in the 21st Cent.
• 40% of global population• 2013 > 8th year decline of global freedom• Nominal democracies > autocracy (elections
but no rights and institutions)
Freedom score, by country 2013
What do you think are some of the challenges to democracy?
Challenges to democracy?
• a
Riseof
China
Faults in the system
ArabSpring /
Egypt
Russia /Vladimir
Putin
EuropeanUnion challenges
todemocracy
Financial crisis 2007 revealed weaknesses in politics
Gridlock Gerrymandering Second rate
representatives 2013 31% very
satisfied with country direction
Broke the monopoly on progress Doubling living standards 3X faster than US Tight government control Recruit the best people – fresh talent 2013 85% very satisfied with country dir.
Euphoria to despair Morsi – winner takes all Army steps in War in Syria + anarchy in Libya Building institutions is slow!
Autocratic leaders have followed Venezuela, Ukraine, Argentina
Parliament ignored and despised
Technocrats Populist parties
(Le Pen)
Challenges to democracy?
The voters!
Plato’s worry – living from day to day Short term happiness - Debt financed
democracy (keep system afloat, wars, etc.) Brazil...
Distrust in government (EU 50%)Do not want to adapt to austerityGrowing cynicism towards politicsNo trust > no education > apathy Every nation gets the government it
deserves. (Joseph de Maistre)
Democracy Tribulationsin the USA
Gerrymandering
ˈdʒer.iˌmæn.dər.ɪŋ - an occasion when someone in
authority changes the borders of an area in order to increase the number of people within that area who will
vote for a particular party or person.
Elbridge Gerry,Governor of Massachusetts The “Salamander” District
Origin of this Practice
Evolution of Districts
1942 2010
Gerrymandering, where?
Top 5 Gerrymandered Districts: # 5
Top 5 Gerrymandered Districts: # 4
Top 5 Gerrymandered Districts: # 3
Top 5 Gerrymandered Districts: # 2
Top 5 Gerrymandered Districts: # 1
Honorable Mentions
How Does it Work? In Simple Terms…
Blue wins 3Red Wins 0
Blue wins 2Red Wins 1
Blue wins 1Red Wins 2
So, why is gerrymandering bad?
• Encourages manipulation of our elections by:– Allowing incumbent politicians to help partisan
allies, – Hurt political enemies and choose their voters
before the voters choose them. • Means to further political goals by: – Drawing boundaries to protect incumbents – Reduce competition, rather than to ensure equal
voting power and fair representation.
The Result: Less and Less Competition…Count of Congressional Districts
…Underrepresentation
Gridlock
/ˈɡrɪdˌlɒk/- In politics, gridlock or deadlock or political stalemate refers to a situation when there is difficulty of passing laws in a legislature because the votes for and against a proposed law are evenly divided, or in
which two legislative houses, or the executive branch and the legislature are controlled by different political
parties, or otherwise cannot agree.
Gridlock: Polarization?
101 Congress - 1989 113 Congress - 2013
Filibuster
\ˈfi-lə-ˌbəs-tər\ - an effort to prevent action in a legislature (such as the U.S. Senate or House of
Representatives) by making a long speech or series of speeches.
Filibusters: Used More and More…
Number of Motions to End a Filibuster
Just Don’t Let the President Leave a Mark…
Motions to End a Filibuster when a single Party Controlled the Senate and the White House
(*) Does not include Obama’s last 3 Years
Money
I do not have to define this, right?
Trashing Your Opponent is on the Rise
When to go Negative? when taking on an incumbent; when being significantly outspent; when there is irrefutable information
that the opponent has done something wrong;
when the candidate has little name recognition.
Election Turnout: Rhythmic Ups and Downs…
Why a dip every two years??
Every Election Counts! But Voters Do not Agree…
What could be done to foster and preserve democracy?
The end