Top 4 Reasons the United States’ Government Is Dysfunctional

Many people have begun to notice that the United States’ government is dysfunctional. Curing this dysfunction is up to the politicians. Unfortunately, the root causes are deeply ingrained in American politics. Additionally, they only seem to be getter worse over time. However, it is up to everyone to understand where it originated. Fortunately, the root causes are fairly simple. They are fairly easy to remember. Understanding these can help citizens be more informed about the current state of politics. Here are the top four reasons the United States’ government is dysfunctional. 

1. Money

It is fairly well known that money can lead to issues. This applies to congress as well. If you have been following your bucket list for involved citizens, you will notice that candidates and political parties spend billions of dollars during the presidential campaign. Similarly, senators and House members spend millions of dollars to get elected or reelected. Additionally, various associations spend millions to campaign for their favorite candidates. These numbers are only going to get higher over time. 

However, this fundraising is expected of candidates. If candidates have this money to spend, they seem less vulnerable, meaning they will get more funds over time. This is not only true for candidates who are in danger of not being reelected but those who are not. That’s because those who have such a large amount of money will scare away other challengers. Additionally, these stable candidates will use their funds to support other candidates that they want to be elected. 

The biggest problem with this is the amount of effort it takes. It is all that these politicians do when they are not voting or discussing. Even those who want to do the right thing realize that everyone they encounter is a potential donor. In the end, these politicians have less and less time for politics because they are dedicating their time to fundraising. 

2. Demographics

Politicians crave approval from people. Understanding the political demographics of the country gives them the ability to receive this approval. Many House members are elected because they are the same political party as a district’s lawmaker, thanks to how these districts are drawn. Previously, these districts were very competitive. However, now they are less likely to change hands. In other words, the primaries are the true candidate deciding elections in most districts. 

Therefore, candidates must strive to appeal to the activists in their local areas. This means reshaping their reputation, so they are appealing. For Democrats, that means appealing to the left. For Republicans, that means stretching to include the far right. Despite this issue, there is little being done to prevent this gerrymandering. The main people taking action are companies like No Labels and other social organizations. 

3. Media

While listening to your favorite news channel, you may wonder, “does it matter if the government is dysfunctional?” Unfortunately, the dwindling of national politics in local news and the now national spread of opinions has contributed to this dysfunction. Previously, there were many journalists covering topics related to national news. Now, the dwindling number of journalists has given politicians the ability to sell their priorities and voting records without proper scrutiny. This means that no one is around to press these politicians when they discuss their successes. It also means that no one is around to press Congress members after passing a new bill. 

Additionally, voters have begun to reject any information that they do not believe is true. Instead, they are only focusing on news that reinforces what they believe. Similarly, social media feeds have become spots where Americans can voice their political opinions and get undying support from their friends with the same views. It’s also pretty difficult to have constructive arguments over these outlets. This has caused dysfunction in the government because it promotes fiction over fact and encourages politicians to spend time cultivating their images rather than working. 

4. Interaction

It is difficult for legislation to be passed when Congressional members refuse to interact. However, it is becoming the norm in Congress. Democrats and Republicans have begun refusing to interact socially. The closest they come is a chat during committee breaks. Their schedules are largely to blame. Many senators and House members fly to Washington right before the voting for that week starts and leave as soon as it is over. While they are there, they tend to be highly segregated from their opposing parting members. 

Additionally, few members of Congress have relocated to Washington. This is breaking the traditions of bipartisan gatherings on weekends and holidays. This separation prohibits understanding between parties and contributes to arguments during voting.  

To create a more functional government, the United States would need to reduce the focus on money, stop gerrymandering and its impact on elections, encourage people to view different media, and force politicians to interact. Unfortunately, this is a big change that does not seem to be happening soon.