ŏ Ŕ ō Ŝ Š ő Ş ȘȠAmerican Democracy
Diagnosed*
Alan Ehrenhalt earned a master’s degree in journalism, has worked as a
political reporter, editor, and columnist, has been a Nieman Fellow at
Harvard and a visiting scholar in political science at Berkeley, and is now
executive editor ofGoverningmagazine in Washington. His new book,
Ļe United States of Ambition, shapes his keen observations into an intelli-
gible pattern.
Ļe U.S. political system has changed vastly from what it was sev-
eral decades ago. Old-style machines like the one bossed in Utica, New
York, by Rufus Elefante (never elected to anything) are gone. Political par-
ties have lost their organized character. Experienced politicians and party
leaders no longer have much chance to screen potential candidates. Suc-
cess no longer belongs to team players. Ļe political process has become
much more open to leaderless individuals seeking office on their own. “Ļe
skills that work in American politics at this point in history are those of
entrepreneurship. At all levels of the political system ... it is unusual for
parties to nominate people. People nominate themselves” (p.ȀȆ).
Ļose who gain and keep office tend to be people who like politics, see
it as a full-time career, and either enjoy campaigning or dislike its rigors
less than most people would. Ļey bask in publicity and put a relatively
low value on privacy. As careerist professionals, they develop expertise
in fundraising and in exploiting technology and the media. Furthermore,
people who have these tastes tend to be people who believe in activist
government. Even out of genuine public spirit, they work to expand their
scope for doing good in their favorite way, through exercising governmen-
tal power.
*FromLibertyȄ( JanuaryȀȈȈȁ):ȅȈ–ȆȀ. Review of Alan Ehrenhalt,Ļe United States
of Ambition: Politicians, Power, and the Pursuit of Office(New York: Times Books,ȀȈȈȀ).
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