Introduction
It would be unrealistic to claim that the United States is a failed democracy. To continue, democracy is perceived in terms of representation and how people interpret their political processes. This is largely based on residents' desire to be heard. As a result, the relationship between citizens and democratic systems is influenced by a country's degree of democracy. Furthermore, other institutions that have close interaction with people, such as the bureaucratic system, the welfare state, civil service, and the judiciary, form the extent to which a nation's government stands. Principles like fairness, equality, and transparency on the aforementioned service systems would form an effect on democratic attitudes of a nation’s population. This paper seeks to illustrate that the US democracy is has not failed but it downgraded and the elites have had a substantial control over corporate and government institutions.
Is the US a Failed Democracy?
The Us has been in the past been perceived to be a full democracy. However, in the recent past, the democracy has downgraded mainly due to reduced trust in the country’s political system. According to the Economist Intelligent Unit (EIU) the recent presidential elections should not be entirely blamed for the witnessed democratic deficit. Markedly, the conditions and influence from the political class by the elite citizens is alarming. According to the report, the US democratic score fell from 8.05 ranking in 2015 to 7.98 in 2016. The fall is below the full democracy cut-off rank of 8.0., therefore, from support of the ranking, it is evident that the US democracy is wanting but, however, it cannot be ruled to be a failed democracy rather a ‘flawed democracy” term is appropriate.
The Ranking Index and Flawed Democracy
The ranking index offers a review of global democracy by rating countries on five groupings namely; civil liberties, political participation, political culture, pluralism and electoral process, and the functioning of the government. These measures form the basis on which a nations democracy is formed. The US would be classified as a flawed democracy subject to the weak governance of free elections, a wanting political culture, and reduced levels of political participations.
Declining Public Confidence
In addition, people’s trust in political institutions is important in forming a functioning and successful democracy. The US public confidence in its government has gradually dropped from History and particularly from the attacks on 11th September 2001. A report by Pew Research Centre has indicated that their confidence in government and its institutions has been declining steadily. A reduction in public confidence in the US government is rated at a low level of 19% level. This has been attributed to the corrosive impact of the reduced level on the democratic quality.
Have our major government institutions become a vehicle for an elitist "rule by the few over the many"?
There has been an increasing inaccessibility of the white house to the press, violence against lawyers and journalists, the involved with Russia on the political system has led to distrust within the government, and leaders’ efforts to delegitimize opponents, the media, unfavorable court and independent rulings has contributed to the flawed state of the US democracy. The leaders involved known as elites have had conflicting preferences and interests in the major institutions compared to the other citizens. They have focused on little emphasis on class conflict, unnecessary needed than on the understanding of the peoples’ interest and power. A class biasness and lack of attention to good and clear governance has seen elite practice corporate and institutional governance. Elite theory emphasis that union leaders should work with corporate-oriented organization leaders. However, there are major conflicts among the two and the frictions has had major effect on how institutions function. Corporates and public institutions acts have been witnessed from the elites because there not restraints in the attacks like in most European nations. The union leaders, who are charged with fighting for citizen rights and god governance in institutions has suffered defeat from the American elites.
The Lack of Attention to Class Conflict
The lack of attention to class conflict leads elite theory to underestimate the differences between corporate-dominated organizations and organizations based in the working class, especially unions. The capitalists and the working class are interdependent, as elite theory stresses, which does set outer limits on what they can do to each other. Moreover, the leaders of unions do work with the leaders of corporate-oriented organizations once their unions are established, as elite theory emphasizes. There has been class conflicts over issues such as work rules, wages, government regulations, and taxes. Elite members have succeeded in creating organizations that offer them some institutional resources over which they have managed to legitimize their own class resources. The dominate and the rule by few over the many has been evident as a result of class upholding and organizational imperatives evasion at senior American organization and government institutions. By so doing, the trust of people on such institutions has declined and, therefore, weaning democracy.
Getting back on the path toward democracy
The path to regain the past glory towards democracy would be attributed to securing well- ordered public institutions which are accountable and highly government by the rule of law. Equality for all should be upheld to large heights in order to raise the Democracy Barometer. This barometer measures the constitutional provisions and effectiveness of judiciary independence.Citizens and unions should be heard on matters of political participations and their interests should be always considered. Organizations of civil societies should also see to it that democracy in public institutions and activities such as election is restored. Secure government representation for all citizens should also be given a priority. In addition, the peoples’ welfare and equal access to their rights and freedoms would help US go back to the path of full democracy.
Conclusion
Democracy is shaped by two important aspects, namely, the political power extension within all social groups and the rule of law performance. The will of the people should be upheld at all time and interference to public institution governance by the elite should be minimal if not eradicated. The democratic principles of freedom as well as political equality will help America restore full democracy. It is therefore, a collaborative mandate to both the government, its citizens, civil societies, and public unions to restore the lost level of democracy with the US. With the current trend, the likelihood of a failed democracy is high. Therefore, to regain trust and confidence that the public once had towards the US actions have to be taken. Thus, delivery of rule of the State and services to the public would not fall under the control of the few rather, by the majority and in accordance with the law.
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