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American democracy was never a perfect heaven, but big-picture political scientist Alan Wolfe is afraid it’s now on a road to the perfect hell. Uninformed, emotional voters, manipulative, button-pushing politicians, few checks, no balances, and at stake, the very idea of democracy as Americans have known it — pluralistic, consensual, steady.
In his new book “Does American Democracy Still Work”, Wolfe warns there is a sickness in the body politic. Lazy, naive, fearful voters, and a “politics of fantasy.” Both parties indulge, he says, but the ruling party has mastered the mix.
Hear a conversation with Alan Wolfe on where we’re headed, as a democracy, and what to do about it.
Quotes from the Show:
“Election 2006 is an important election because it is an election on accountability.” Alan Wolfe
Guests:
Alan Wolfe, professor of political science and director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College. His new book is “Does American Democracy Still Work?”
Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly
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