The teetering party system

To me, this is the Number One issue in--or rather for--America, as sketched by Ezra Klein:

Sociologists like Juan Linz note that there are very few political systems like ours, because having competing parties installed in competing parts of government that are all able to wield power and claim democratic legitimacy at the same time has historically been a recipe for instability and, eventually, disaster. America has evaded that fate thus far, but now that our parties look more like parties in other parts of the world, the question is whether we can evade it forever. A House divided against itself will eventually fail to raise the debt ceiling, or do something else really dumb.

I suppose Klein is able to assert that "we've evaded that fate thus far" largely because the sectional crisis of the 1850s led to outright disunion, which was an abrupt diversion from the impending, total and irreversible collapse of the American political system. The "debate" shifted from politics to the battlefield, after which the two sections returned, essentially, and regrettably, to a status quo ante. The North continued its industrial progress, the South nestled deeper in racism, xenophobia, and ignorance.

But at least Lincoln Republicans and secessionist Democrats knew what they were fighting over. Today, no particular issue seems at stake. Modern Republicans simply insist on power--all of it. Whatever Democrats want, Republicans oppose it--the concept of an ideological Republicanism is fading. It's not for nothing they're known as the Party of No, as in all-in nihilism. And it's as dangerous and treasonous as antebellum secessionism: it's either their way, or they'll bring this nation to its knees. In a manner it's eerier than secessionism; they merely demand to "govern" as recklessly as they wish. Like all petty tyrants, they'll brook no interference.       

Worse yet, Republicans are cornered as well as doomed. They know it. They're slim, singular hope is utter destruction--a calamity so great it'll reset the political equation.

Thus from Klein's reasonable observation, "A House divided against itself will eventually fail to raise the debt ceiling, or do something else really dumb," one is led to ask: What could be dumber, which is to say, more calamitous, than failure to raise the debt ceiling? It's a nihilist's dream.

Comments

[Robert Lipscomb]

I agree with everything you have written except "... Republicans are ... doomed." I also disagree with Se. Graham's assertion yesterday of a "death spiral".

The Republicans might be heading towards an extended period of being the minority party making it very difficult to win a national presidential election. They might further compound it by losing control of both legislative houses for an extended period of time, leading to a loss of the majority of the judiciary.

Even if all that comes to pass, the Republican could still hold significant numbers of elected offices and control numerous state governments. What scares me is that "permanent minority" status could further radicalize that minority.

I believe you imply the same. What if one-third of the populace believes it is living in a country and society that is coercing it to live in a way they find oppressive?

I am not suggesting that the majority cater to a minority out of fear. I am only suggesting their doom might not be an unqualified win for us, and that scares me.

[Turgidson]

" they merely demand to "govern" as recklessly as they wish."

And what's kinda terrifying is that their idea of "governing" is just as horrific as their idea of burning the place down - where burning the place down = deliberate debt ceiling breach, while "governing" = Paul Ryan's Randroid dystopia.

I honestly am not sure which is worse. The debt ceiling breach would be horrific in the short term, but might lead to the necessary realization that these people are dangerous fools. Ryan's budget would do its work over a much longer period of time and could be difficult or impossible to dislodge once implemented.

We really need to keep at least one branch of government out of the hands of these nutjobs forever, or until the party is controlled by a sane faction.

[Jon Ponder]

The California GOP doomed itself in the 1990s and is just a faint, shriveled remnant of a state party today. GOP voter registration is 30% here and dropping, the lowest it has been since the party was established in the 19th century. We have no statewide elected Republicans. Dems in the legislature have veto-proof majorities in both houses. Our congressional delegation of 53 members includes just 17 Republicans -- watch it go to 15 next year.

And you know what? We're doing fine. We passed a tax increase that helped turn the Schwarzenegger era $20 billion deficit into a $3.4 billion surplus. Gov. Brown and the Legislature just turned in their third on-time, balanced budget in a row.

The lesson here is simple: Republicans ARE the problem.

[Peter G]

All too true. A person might well ask how this apparently unstable system has managed to survive for so long. Not only survive but manage to produce regular advances in human rights such as suffrage for women, voting rights, legislation to forbid discrimination on various grounds, SS, Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps etc. It is most emphatically not because of some misty long lost respect for ideological opponents. To my mind the system's brilliance was the early recognition of the utter venality of the professional politician. (Better angels are very unproductive workers, everybody thinks the voices in their heads are better angels) In order for such to survive they must bring home the bacon. And to do that backs must be mutually and digitally massaged. In other words deals must be made.

There is nothing particularly very odd therefore with the current crop of tea party Republicans. And no more common electoral theme than claiming to want to go to Washington to clean the place up. Despite having distorted the electoral process through gerrymandering and driven their candidate selection process to extremes they still have have to deliver that bacon in order to get re-elected. Some will "nobly" lose their seats by failing to do so and pissing off enough of their constituents and some will decide they like their jobs. Those people are going to have to make deals to keep the job. May take a while but it will sort out. I hope.

The difficulty I see is that, once upon a time, being a Rep or a Senator was considered a respectable goal in and of itself. Now that it is becoming a mere stepping stone to larger economic success in media and lobbying there will be a loss of both institutional memory and the professional pols needed to make your system work.