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.
1. Morris Fiorina talks about how the parties today are much closer to the responsible party model than the parties in the 1970s. Fiorina believes that a responsible party is one that entrust control of government to one unified party, in Principles he discusses how politics have changed overtime becoming less responsible while Americans increasingly vote to split control of the government. Responsible party theory is when all citizens are equal and should have an equal influence over the government and their decisions. To me what makes a party responsible is when all members of the party are satisfied with their decisions, and they carry out clear policies.
2. Fiorina thinks that parties today are unable to govern effectively because they are not in a unified democratic government, and since 1976 it has collapsed. Fiorina believes that today's responsible parties are operating in a manner that was not anticipated by many who wished for a more responsible party. Fiorina discussed how the public policies that were proposed under the 2000-05 responsible party government were some of the most difficult problems and challenges in politics. If parties want to change and begin to govern better, they should begin by making their party system more effective at problem solving and focusing on issues that are more relevant to becoming a more responsible party, whether that be a unified Democratic government or a unified Republican government.
3. Parties don’t die according to Seth Masket, this is because of reasons for durability from a mix of election laws, a form of government that favors a two-party system, the way voters think through how they will vote, and the structural obstacles faced by third parties. Masket discusses how the party's system of plurality or winner takes all elections for congress and state legislatures make for our stable two-party system. Since we have this system created in the United States it has a psychological impact on the voters where they recognize casting a ballot for anything other than the Republican or Democratic party will become a “wasted vote.” I agree with Masket on this and believe it is much harder for a third party to achieve any viability when it comes around to election time. Another plausible reason I could think of as to why our two political parties have lasted so long is that they may rig the system in order to favor themselves as a single party, which in return makes it almost impossible for a third-party to get any votes.