Fixing Congress-Chapters 9 thru 15
Chapters (cont.) 9 thru 15
Chapter 9 – Journalists as Advocates and Adversaries
Chapter Nine drops the curtain on the media’s historical transformation over the past 50 years. How has the essential resource in a democracy been reinvented by technology, competition, and a decline in straight, objective journalism? Are these changes hampering consumers’ (voters) ability to access reliable and balanced information about federal policy options?
Chapter 10 – Lobbying and Special Interests
Chapter Ten focuses on one of the other institutions afforded constitutional protections in the First Amendment–lobbying. The Constitution guarantees the right to “petition the government for redress of grievances.” The authors review the different effects of this influential sector, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Special interests are traced through the centuries, from the first petitioners of Congress to the billion-dollar advocacy industry today. The chapter has some fun with some of the scandals that created public disdain for those who lobbied the institution.
Chapter 11 – Misunderstanding Public Opinion
Chapter Eleven studies the persuasive punch of survey research and polling. The authors distinguish between research that enlightens the public and enhances the legislative and political processes and how it can mislead, confuse, and even be used to deceive voters. Public opinion research can be either a great asset or a hindrance to understanding or influencing congressional actions. Fundamental aspects of public opinion research are defined in easy-to-understand language.
Chapter 12 – Ethics – Playing by the Rules or Not
Chapter Twelve, as with the examples in the Introduction, explores public perception of Congress and people serving in Congress as being a long way from positive. Yet, the ethical standards on paper and as enforced are much more stringent than most voters or media understand and much more so than in most industries or professions. Numerous examples help readers see what is or is not permissible. One co-author organized and taught these programs on ethics for many years and has stories about what elected Members and spouses find challenging about living by the rules and under the spotlight.
Chapter 13 – Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Chapter Thirteen, quoting current and former Members, shows how even loose talk impacts the reputation of Congress, distorts reality, and damages the potential for meaningful legislation. By going beyond stories of personal insults to illustrate the lack of civility, the chapter delves into the complex structural dynamics that have made it harder for Members to be civil with one another. Some of those forces are external, but many are exacerbated by the lack of modern Members having the right to offer amendments, question actions, and even vote on parts of complex legislation.
Chapter 14 – Reforms to Make Congress Work for You
Chapter Fourteen builds on all that has been discussed to offer strategic and tactical reforms to improve the people’s branch of government–Congress. The strategic reforms would change the composition and character of both the Senate and House. Reforms would also transform campaign finance practices that inhibit representative government and distort political, social, and economic realities. Finally, the chapter offers tactical changes, including more opportunities for bipartisan voting and other measures intended to make members of Congress more accountable to the people they serve.
Chapter 15 – Final Thoughts
As one would expect, this chapter summarizes the preceding material.
Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People is available online from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and others, as well as some bookstores and some local libraries.