Write a reflective response (4-5 sentences each) to each of the three prompts below.
1. Morris Fiorina spends much of his essay discussing whether or not parties are “responsible.” What does he mean by “responsible parties?” What is responsible party theory? And, in your own definition, what does it mean for a party to be responsible?
2. Why does Fiorina think that the parties today are unable to govern effectively (or, responsibly) and in your opinion, why aren’t parties today able to govern effectively? How might parties change to begin to govern more effectively?
3. Why don’t parties die? As Masket points out, we haven’t a new major party in 160 years, since the Civil War. He offers a number of reasons why parties don’t die. What are some of those, and do you agree with him? Can you come up with some other plausible reasons as to why the Republicans and Democrats have lasted for so long?
To add your reply, click "add a new discussion topic," type your response to each of the questions, and then make sure to click "post to forum." Then, check out some of your fellow classmate's responses and make sure to reply (as discussed in the syllabus) to at least two of your classmates' responses before 7/2 at 11:59pm.
2. Political parties are not able to govern effectively because they are so polarized on basically all of the issues. It is hard to come to a decision when all of the viewpoints are opposites. Another issue with todays political parties is the same issue that Fiorina eludes to; the people are not holding political parties accountable to their mistakes. A political party will make a mistake and there will be public outcry, but come the next election that party is still voted for. I think the main reason the parties are not able to govern effectively is because they have such opposite views because one party advocates for more government assistance and one party advocates for less. The parties today are less likely to meet in the middle and negotiate, and instead just rely on outnumbering the representation of the opposing party. I think if parties will work to try to come to the middle ground it will work a lot better, but I'm sure that's much easier said than done.
3. I think a main reason that parties don't die is that it is a lot easier to change an existing party rather than try to start a whole new party. Like previously discussed, our political system does not really allow for a third party so it would be close to impossible to start a new political party that would beat out an existing party. A lot of the issues that the political parties deal with have an answer that goes in one of two opposite ways so people only have two options to make. There are people that find themselves in the middle of two parties, but they will often vote one way or another rather than trying to vote how they actually feel and vote for someone not in one of the two existing parties.
In response to your second question’s answer, it would be way easier for voters and political parties to find a middle ground when solving government and social issues. People love to have their way or no way. This is why governing is so difficult, because appeasing everyone is simply impossible.