The Collision of the American Constitution System and the Politics of Extremism - Book Report/Review Example

Its even worse than it looks: how the American constitutional system collided with the new politics of extremism This is a political analysis book that covers the collision of American constitution system and the politics of extremism. Thomas and Norman, who are the authors of this book, exhibit the basic gridlock that the U.S congress faces due to the left and right wing of the American political parties that has left the center open. The extremism of American politics has left many loop-holes in the constitutional affairs of the State. The economic problem experienced in America is considered a fight between the Democrats and Republicans whose intent is to protect the party interests. The constitution system of America currently experiences problems for party officials whose aim is to break the constitution and have their way. The main issue revolves around the deficit-reduction bill that was turned down in 2010 by the Republicans. According to the book, the roots of the current economic crisis facing the American government were due to the fail of deficit-reduction plan (Mann & Ornstein, 77). The cosponsors of the plan voted against it in the approval panel in the bid of frustrating the Democrat members who were about to ascend power. According to the recent survey, the Republicans currently branded the ‘Young guns’, Knew that Obama was going to get credit in case the plan was effected. All the Democrats voted in support of the proposed plan but they didn’t meet the average percentage needed for bill approval. The incident seemed ironical as the cosponsors of the plan voted against their idea. The initial plan was deficit-reduction and lowering of government expenditure as a mechanism of curbing the deteriorating American economy (Mann & Ornstein, 77). This plan never saw the light of the day due to selfish Personal ambition of the Republican members. The parties, especially the supposed ‘young Guns’ have since neglected the country’s interests to dwell on frustrating the democrat government by laying dangerous strategies aimed at realizing a revolution. According to the information depicted in the book, some democrat members pressurized the speaker of the National assembly to influence certain debt limit decisions in line with their personal interests. Their sole aim was to disapprove the credibility of the incumbent government and push for a revolution. The republicans wanted a harassed decision on the matter forcing the president or democrats to bend to their interest after which they have a reason to push for a revolution. A consensus on deficit-reduction was met after reviewing the debt history of American government since World War I to date. All economic icons were consulted before the concurrence and the plan remained intact until 2010 when it was dismissed by the Republicans after realizing the long distance between them and power. The sudden change of minds created an economic tension that still disturbs America to date. According to the author’s of this book, the Republicans came up with the idea as a political tool that could trigger or engineer their move to power. Due to the two-party system in America, the residents or members or the public have no option but to be either a Democrat or Republican. The Democrats follow their leaders and the same applies to Republicans. This leaves the country in a bad state of balance. The economy of the country remains independent due to inter-party ideological differences. The authors call for ideological purification in the American politics citing lame reasoning that exist between the two parties. According to their perception, extremism in politics has tied America to hash economic chains that need inter-party unity to curb. He citizens suffer indirectly without their knowledge due to the rise in the cost of living. Without the deficit-reduction plan, America, just like any other country struggling to achieve economic stability, is forced to impose high tax rate to balance the economy. The authors still believe and have hope for patriotism in America though party leaders run away from reality to fulfill their selfish interests. Some parties and movements have been established by various country patriots in the bid to help in solving the country’s economic problems. Though both parties protect their interest in the legislative assembly, Democrats are not to blame for the current economic crisis facing America. In the year 2010, the democrats voted in support of the deficit-reduction plan while the Republicans who were the cosponsors of the plan, later voted against the plan. The republicans knew the purpose of the proposed plan though due to party interest, they decided to kill it (Mann & Ornstein, 77). Since 2010, the political culture of America has changed as Republicans still push for the breach of debt limit to tarnish the Democrat government. The Republicans according to the information displayed in the book, are in search of political relevance to ascend the presidency seat in the next general elections. Apart from explaining the level of political extremism in America, the authors have also identified certain political factors that act as contributors to economic crisis. According to them, the media tend to bury the lies and distortions of the politicians’ lies in the back pages instead of addressing them to the public. The media being a link between the public and government need display full information regardless of negativities involved. Though the government is controlled from the white house, the media have the power to influence certain decisions that they feel can polarize the country. The public always believe in the information displayed or streamed from media houses hence making it difficult to restore the country’s image without involving the media. The media according to the authors should also display the information in case the minority kills an important bill in the parliament. The Democrats also find it difficult to face the media with some information regarding the pressures from the Republican Party. The public may question the credibility of the Democrat government not knowing the politics involved in the parliamentary decision-making process. The minority in the National Assembly always want to have their way in the democrat government hence manipulating both the Parliamentary system and media houses to display false information to the public. The authors call for reforms that can curb the mismatch that exist between the parliamentary polarization and the constitutional system. Allowing minority to rule the floor is one of the authors’ possible suggestions for solving the country’s economic crisis. This move relieves the majority party of various parliamentary burdens (Mann & Ornstein, 77). Since the majority who are the Republicans in the legislature, reject any ideal bill presented by the Democrats, they should be given full responsibility of presenting their suggestions or bills. When a bill is presented by the Minority, a team is established scrutinize and present the proposed bill to the National Assembly. The authors claim that the majority can easily pass the bill tabled by the minority after realizing their ill intensions. It is well understood in the history of American politics that both the Democrats and Republicans have their own strategies of ruling the government. The response to calamity always differs as the republicans will suggest head-on counter while the democrats take time to study and source for ideal measures to counter a problem. The economic crisis should a matter of public concern and not party concern as depicted by the authors of this book. Deficit-reduction and decreased spending can help in balancing the country’s economic status. Government activities that are optional can be given a break and the country achieves a stable economic stability. A reduction in fund distribution to other countries can also help in restoring the country’s economic stability. According to the information given in the book, it is clear that the authors were trying to display the extremism behind American politics. There are more negative activities that he Democrat government face in the legislature than what gets to the general public. The current government cannot respond fully to certain problems due to the pressures that they receive from the Republicans. The citizens of America are also brains-washed by political lies whose aims are to take control of the government activities (Mann & Ornstein, 77). Actually, the Republican members want a system where they can rule the government indirectly without public knowledge. This is one of the reasons why the authors joined hands to collect, analyze and display issues surrounding the current government due to rigid opposition reasoning. The title of this book also speaks a lot about the dangerous decision made by the opposition to sabotage government moves in line with the current economic crisis. The republicans according to the authors know the calamities and possible solutions though fighting the Democrat government. These dangerous moves are planned by Party leaders who are hungry for power and want to control basic government organs. According to the authors, the move by the Republicans is unconstitutional hence leading the nation to a dangerous economic state. The only remedy to American economic crisis is the implementation of deficit reduction plan and reduced government expenditure. The killing of the 2010 economic plan has will still lead America through tough times unless the government and the opposition (Republicans) come to a concurrence about the deficit-reduction plan. Work cited Mann, Thomas E, and Norman J. Ornstein. Its Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. New York: Basic Books, 2013. Internet resource. Read More