Considering the widening cultural and political divides in
American society that were on full display in Congress during the first half of
the 2010s, uncovering a general will stretching across partisan lines as well
as across a the continent and beyond would proffer a rare opportunity for
significant legislative output. Furthermore, such a case would enable us to
assess whether the elected representatives of the People were indeed representing, and, if so, whom. That is
to say, the political distance between
the People and their political class could be measured. I contend as respecting
the stance of the People on money in politics and public governance, much unity
and, unfortunately, much distance can be discerned, at least as of the end of
May 2015 when a New York Times/CBS News telephone-poll was taken.
A Rockefeller Republican turned populist? (Getty Images)
The full essay is at “Americans
on How Political Campaigns Are Funded.”
