Structural Flaws in American Politics

Money

Throughout American history, those with money and influence often find themselves in positions of power. Money's influence in contemporary democracies like the United States has created financial battlegrounds in the wake of true democracy.

This economic imbalance skews the democratic process and causes a pay-to-win system. Access to the political system has become more and more exclusive, as the costs of advertisements and campaigning skyrocket with minimal resources from donations. Campaigns, without these substantial financial resources for essential components, are at an inherent disadvantage.

These candidates, often reliant on corporate funding or massive donations inevitably cause the politicians to become biased and beholden to their financial backers' interests, rather than what is best for the populace. One famous historical example is the Watergate scandal of the 1970s. The core of the issue revolved around secret contributions to Nixon's campaign.

In 2014, the US Supreme Court struck down all limits on how much any individual can contribute to any campaign in the case of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. In the 2022 US presidential election, outside financial backers and groups spent over 1.6 billion dollars to support Republican candidates. These rising costs of political elections have made access to running for office more and more competitive.

Voter Suppression

Democracies are built upon the idea that all eligible citizens have access to an equal vote. Unfortunately, as a result of voter suppression and hurdles that certain voters have to jump through, access to this democratic ideal is limited for many.

Gerrymandering, the manipulation of electoral boundaries, presents a massive structural challenge that undermines democratic ideals and challenges the principles of a fair vote. By strategically redrawing boundaries and district lines, political parties can alter certain demographics' value and voting strength. This promotes a system in which politicians and officials choose their voters, the opposite of the democratic ideal of a right to a free and fair vote.

Gerrymandering occurs, in the modern day, in two ways. First is packing, in which voters are clustered together to reduce their power as individual voters. The other is known as cracking, which divides voter strength by making certain groups the minority in their districts.

Another method of voter suppression occurs via reduced polling locations. Officials can set up fewer booths in certain regions and districts to limit the civilians' access to political power. These practices disproportionately harm marginalized communities.

Two-Party System

The two-party system, although successful in many ways, is a very rigid and burdensome process. Democracies like the US often grapple with the notion that the two-party system limits diversity and marginalizes certain political perspectives. The structural dominance of two major parties often stifles alternative voices, makes compromise difficult, increases polarization, and results in very few perspectives being heard.

The two parties don't represent most Americans. Many Americans don't agree fully with the platform of the party we align with. The nuanced opinions and differing perspectives are often lost, preventing important conversations and disagreements from occurring.

This political system substantially reduces the diversity of political ideologies that are available to voters. Citizens often may feel forced to align with one of the two majority parties. This kind of system stifles the success and representation of minorities and their diverse perspectives. Third parties often face difficulties that make it hard to compete on an equal footing and gain visibility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the contradicting notions within democracies, particularly in the context of political elections, money, voter suppression, gerrymandering, and the two-party system, underscore significant challenges to the foundational ideals of equal representation, fairness, and inclusivity. These challenges highlight the ongoing tension between democratic ideals and the practical realities of contemporary political systems. Addressing these issues requires thoughtful reforms and a commitment to enhancing fairness, inclusivity, and representation in the democratic process.