Is it time to acknowledge that America may be on the decline?

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November Nightmares: Both Parties Abetting an American Decline
by Harlan Ullman


October 9, 2006


Unless there is a radical shift in American politics or some extraordinary event, no matter which party wins the coming November congressional elections, the American public will lose. And so could the rest of the world.

With President George W. Bush’s approval ratings often dropping well under 40%, violence and instability in Iraq and Afghanistan showing no signs of abating, Israel engaged in a two front struggle in Gaza and Lebanon and the volatility in gasoline prices, Republicans in Congress should be in trouble. But the public holds Congress in even lower regard than the president—by an order of at least ten percentage points. And Democrats appear divided and uncertain in proposing solutions to the legions of problems and dangers confronting the nation.

The media’s ongoing coverage of the November horse race offers no clear consensus of how the Americans will vote, and it obscures some of the most pressing issues. Just what, then, is missing from the news reports?

The Grim Reality

Government has broken down—just when the sheer number and complexity of issues facing it demand competence. From immigration to health care to social security at home and from Iraq to Iran to Israel to North Korea abroad, the United States government is unable to perform. These realties are an integral part of the November elections and their likely consequences.

Never meant to be efficient, and designed that way by America’s Founding Fathers 230 years ago, a government of divided power depended on compromise and good will to govern. Today, the excesses of thirty or forty years have taken a toll. The sad performance of the U.S. government is manifested in scores of examples: from the dereliction in anticipating and responding to Hurricane Katrina to failing to plan for the post-war period in Iraq. We are seeing government failure in serial crises, including key foreign-policy concerns.

Three elements explain this dysfunctionality: culture, crusade and partisanship. America’s culture has led to the distortion and corruption of politics, which are no longer about providing good government. Instead, the intent is to “win” either re-election or on specific issues by discrediting and attacking the other side—irrespective of facts, civility or reason. Many issues—such as same-sex marriages, flag burning, stem cell research and right to life (or woman’s right to choose known as abortion)—have become so ideologically driven as to make any resolution difficult to impossible.

Crusades can be positive if the cause is correct. But the 1960’s Vietnam crusade to stop communism and prevent the fall of “dominoes” was based on flawed assumptions. The toppling of Saddam Hussein was based less on weapons of mass destruction that did not exist and more on changing the “strategic landscape” of the Middle East by democratizing Iraq, and was therefore similarly flawed.

Finally, partisanship—that inflexible devotion to party no matter the issue—is the worst it has been for over forty years. Civil discourse is extinct. Republicans and Democrats are equally guilty. Attack (and often outrageous) ads, the relentless fund raising (necessary to winning elections) and the influence of small but well-financed interest groups further distort politics and intensify the viciousness.

The consequence is not merely in gridlock. It is a broken system. But even if George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers were alive today and the government was brilliantly led, finding good solutions to the daunting array of problems facing the country would still be very difficult. Meanwhile, the White House under President Geroge W. Bush has largely ignored Congress. As a result, the excesses of the executive—whether on domestic and foreign surveillance in the Global War on Terror and the handling of enemy combatants and the disgraces of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay prisons—have irreversibly tarred and damaged America’s credibility and image abroad, all further signs of a broken government.

Peering Forward

Here’s what Americans can expect after November: Should Republicans retain both houses of Congress, they will opt, in the president’s lexicon, to stay the course across the broad range of issues. They will make no meaningful effort to rectify past blunders and mistakes barring some catastrophic event such as another 9/11 or economic crises.

What’s more, as a party, Republicans are largely in denial and still hesitant to take the president on in any substantial way. Iraq and Afghanistan, no matter how favorably events are being spun, lurch closer and closer to disaster. Fiscal discipline has gone the way of legislative oversight of the executive branch—in other words, disappeared. The GOP has been shockingly silent about what will be done to bring debts and deficits under control or restore America’s evaporating reputation and influence abroad. Nor do they seem interested in becoming a check or a balance again. And if Republicans lean more heavily on the right-wing base to win, what will that bargain mean for the influence of ideology on governance? Many centrist and moderate Republicans in Congress are rightfully fearful of becoming endangered species.

Should Democrats win control of at least one house, they almost certainly will put their determination to undo much of the past six years of the Bush Administration above governing wisely. Despite the GOP’s political vulnerability, in terms of substance, the Democrats are no better. Divided on both domestic and foreign policy, the Democrats seem determined to run on an anti-Bush platform highly (and rightfully) critical of Iraq, a tactic unlikely to play well with voters who are unhappy with the performance of both parties. And if one were unhappy with the Republican chairpersons of the many House committees, likely Democratic chairs will not necessarily prove any better.

Should Democrats win control of both houses (long shot at best)—after enduring twelve years in the political wilderness at the hands of the Republicans—exercising the tyranny of the majority surely will prove hard to resist. Fiery hearings and torrid investigations of the administration are inevitable. No matter how often House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi calls for restraint, angry House Democrats will finally have the chance to attack the administration on areas where they believe it broke the law—such as “domestic spying,” the use of torture and the treatment of enemy combatants—or demonstrated supreme incompetence, such as Iraqi “reconstruction” and Hurricane Katrina. And a Democratic Senate will not be far behind.

Did Someone Say Impeachment?

The story does not end there. In this poisonous atmosphere, some Democrats might like to even the score for what they believe was the trumped up 1999 impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Whether a president could be impeached, convicted and dismissed because of incompetence or unsatisfactory performance is surely debatable. Unfortunately for the nation, the Republicans have provided an abundance of ammunition for the Democrats to fire back.

Should grounds for punitive action be found, even a Republican Senate would encounter political difficulties in ducking charges emanating from the House. Hence, presidential succession could become a real issue. For Democrats, Dick Cheney is even less acceptable than George Bush, raising the specter of a “double hanging.” And were Cheney sacrificed to save the president for whatever reason, choosing a successor would not be a trip to the briar patch.

Confirming a new vice president would become a battle royale. There is no guarantee that confirmation would move easily, quickly or that a filibuster in the Senate might trigger the so-called “nuclear option” to end extended debate, which in turn provokes a constitutional crisis. By comparison, the Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas hearings could prove mild.

Should no vice president be in office, the speaker of the House is next in line for the presidency. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi could become Speaker Pelosi. But, to Republicans, President Pelosi is as unacceptable as President Cheney is to Democrats. The Constitution does not require that the speaker be an elected member of the House. Conceivably, and this is a stretch, Democrats could break tradition by choosing an alternative speaker whom the public would see having the ability to lead the nation. But imagination is something both parties seem to lack.

Given the dangerous level of partisanship and the “you’re with us or against us” arrogance of the White House, Americans will yearn for the days when political gridlock was a major worry.

A Losing Proposition

On July 4th, the anniversary of America’s independence from England and two days prior to President Bush’s sixtieth birthday, North Korea launched seven missiles, one of which—the long range TaePoDong II—failed. The other missiles, variants of the Soviet Scud missile developed during World War II, landed in the Sea of Japan. A mini-crisis soon followed, to be obscured by events half a world away.

Less than two weeks later, the Middle East exploded. In Gaza in the south of Israel, Hamas kidnapped an Israeli soldier. Two weeks later, Hezbollah, operating out of Lebanon on Israel’s northern border, kidnapped two more. Israel responded with military force and both Hamas and Hezbollah retaliated. Hamas, legitimately elected to rule Palestine, has been classified as a terrorist organization. Hezbollah, a more formidable group, is also a political party that has substantial clout in Lebanon and has been sponsored and supported by Iran. Syria too has had a large role to play in Lebanon and in supporting these groups. With Iran refusing to abandon its nuclear power programs and continuing to enrich its uranium, the fear is that a nuclear weapon is part of their ambitions. The same applies to North Korea, which many believe has enough nuclear material for a handful of bombs. Hence, both East Asia and the Greater Middle East could be destabilized. While the price of oil is dropping after approaching $80 a barrel, not only geopolitics but economics are in great flux and filled with uncertainty.

In America, voters should be very worried. A do-nothing Republican Congress or overly aggressive Democrats are equally unacceptable outcomes. Both are reasons for sleepless nights.

Friends and allies of the Unites States should also be worried. America is crucial to underwriting global stability. Without U.S. support and competent involvement, the global situation could conceivably get worse. Watchful observers should not be overly optimistic about the November elections, no matter which party wins the horse race.


Harlan Ullman is a columnist for The Washington Times and a senior advisor at Washington D.C.’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. His latest book, America’s Promise Restored—Preventing Culture, Crusade and Partisanship from Wrecking Our Nation, was published in June.

 

I think the polarization of our country between Repubs and Democrats is a serious weakness.

It's amazing to see that over 70% here feel that the U.S. is in some way in decline, with a meager 10% believing the country is moving to a better future.

Perhaps it's time for a kind of cultural and political "revolution" in America?

 

Our education system is the worst amongst industrialized nations - and worse still then nations on the rise.

there are many problems....and our politicians are focused on winning elections and not addressing these problems.

We need a great leader - one that can unite both republicans and democrats alike. Let's hope one comes out in 2008. For one thing, it's no one in on the political radar that I can see.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Tell us more about these prospective candidates.

I like this guy Obama in Illinois - but he's still too young. McCain is a bit iffy - sometimes he takes positions that don't fit with his character.

I really think Colin Powell would make a great president, but I think he lacks the desire and perhaps the charisma.

As for Guliani - Not sure if he can make the bridge to democrats.

 

Perot is too rash. He had his chance and what did he do? He quit unexpectedly.

The problem with our government is that it's too hard for people to get into the races. The amount of connections and affiliations you have - the cost of media and ect....makes it very hard for great people to run for politics. You have to be part of the system.

We need to find a way to level the playing field - that would push candidates to really appeal to people instead of just getting elected based on name and who outslings who with mud.

 

Well, perhaps Gulliani is the best prospect for 2008. He just might be a popular president -something we sorely need to heal the wounds of the last 10 years of brinkmenship and partisianship.

So much hate between liberals and conservatives - it does need to stop.

Perhaps I should register as a Republican again so I can vote for Guliani in the primaries. Don't see any democrats though...

I think I'd be happy with a moderate Republican as president, and the Democrats in control of both houses of Congress with the courts tilting slightly conservative.