John Creighton

February 5th, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches

Tags: Civility, Democracy, Public Leaders

The American people have lost confidence in Congress as an institution.  The evidence is clear and overwhelming.

The Gallup organization’s tracking polls show confidence in Congress remains near historic lows.  Only, twelve percent of Americans expressed a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in Congress in 2008.  People’s confidence level remained at an anemic seventeen percent in 2009.   A summer 2009 Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found that fifty-seven percent of Americans would vote to replace the entire Congress and start from scratch.

It is little wonder that people feel this way.  We read stories about Senators who sell their health care vote. Big banks receive bailout money to keep them afloat.  Then, these same banks give campaign contributions to members of congress.  Most of the cash going to those who serve on committees who oversee the TARP program. It is very easy to be very cynical.

The recent Supreme Court decision to strike down campaign finance limitations has given rise to a new wave of public concern.  The decision will allow interest groups, unions and corporations to pay for political ads.  Many people feel that this will allow interest groups to buy candidates lock, stock and barrel.  Perhaps it will.

We like to find villains to blame when our institutions don’t work the way we want them to.  Curing our ills is easier if there is a bad guy to hold responsible.  The solution is easier, too.  Find the silver bullet that can pierce the dragon’s heart.

It’s easy to find bad guys when it comes to money in politics.  The actions of Congress suggest time and time again that members care more about special interest groups who donate money than the American people.  It is logical to conclude, then, that the way to make Congress more responsive to their constituents is to cut off their access to special interest money.

This is the thinking behind Fix Congress First! The group’s co-founders – Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig and Democratic campaign consultant Joe Trippi – are calling for an amendment to the Constitution to fund elections through a combination of public funding and small dollar contributions.  Citing corruption of elected officials, paralysis of Congress’ to act in the best interests of the American people and people’s loss of trust, the co-founders argue that changing the money game is the best fix.  They write, “[W]ith special interest funneling millions of dollars into our elections… we can never have confidence [in Congress].

I wish it was that easy.  It would be nice if the source of Congress’ problems lay only in Washington, DC.  But, we need to look closer to home.  The cause of hyper-partisan, special interest driven politics begins in our own backyards.  As much as we might want to believe otherwise, our Congress is a reflection of us.

Bill Bishop documents in his book, The Big Sort, that American communities are increasingly ideologically segregated.  Bishop writes:   “America may be more diverse than ever coast to coast, but the places where we live are becoming increasingly crowded with people who live, think, and vote like we do. This social transformation didn’t happen by accident. We’ve built a country where we can all choose the neighborhood and church and news show — most compatible with our lifestyle and beliefs. Our country has become so polarized, so ideologically inbred, that people don’t know and can’t understand those who live just a few miles away.”

Bishop backs up these assertions with loads of data compiled by demographer Robert Cushing.  Bishop also explores one of the consequences of ideologically monogamous regions and communities:  Fewer competitive elections.  He writes: “Congressional districts have grown largely uncontested.  Even in the middle of an unpopular war, 90 percent of incumbent members of Congress were reelected in 2006, and although the number of competitive races increased, only 66 out of 435 House races were at all close.  By 2004, nearly half the members of Congress came from districts that had unassailable majorities.”

The 2008 elections were not much different.  Ninety-six percent of incumbent House members were reelected.  Only thirteen open seats changed parties. Though it is early, The Cook Political Report predicts only 55 out 435 House races to be close in the upcoming 2010 elections.

Bishop debunks another common villain blamed for non-competitive elections: Redistricting.  He and Cushing did analysis of several post redistricting elections and found no impact on competitiveness.

Money may corrupt elected officials.  Money may be a contributing factor to members’ of Congress seeming disregard for their constituents.  But, money is not the real culprit.

There is no accountability at the ballot box.  Members of Congress are free to cavort with special interests because there is little chance of losing reelection.  All they have to do to win our favor is disparage the ideologues from the “other” party.  It’s a time tested formula for victory.  The candidates and their consultants know that we won’t vote the scoundrels out.  We’ll cheer, “Hear, Hear.”

This is what ideologically monogamous communities and social networks lead to.  Our hatred for the “other” party – or those with different views – is dearer to us than reforming Congress.  We the people who have chosen to live and socialize within enclaves are the real culprits abetting our hyper-partisan, do-nothing Congress.

That’s a tougher villain to hate than special interests.  And, it’s a lot harder to think up a silver bullet to correct this systemic change in our body politic.  How do you pass policy that breaks down the tribes in which we’re all choosing to live?

I don’t question Mr. Lessig’s and Mr. Trippi’s motives to improve Congress as an institution.  I understand the frustration that leads many people to join their movement.  Trying to slay a dragon feels a lot better than doing nothing.

But, like many reform efforts, Fix Congress First doesn’t ask the American people to look in the mirror.  And, like many reform efforts that rally people against a simplistically defined villain, the efforts, even if successful, will likely disappoint because they won’t create the change we want.

Fix Congress First.  I wish it was that easy.

*     *     *

John Creighton be found on Twitter @johncr8on and onFacebook.

Photo Credit: Biggunben (Flickr)