How Can We Fix American Democracy?

"Democracy is getting to be one of those words that, at least in our day-to-day political debates, has become essentially meaningless: Because you can't be against it (openly, at least), whatever you disapprove of must represent a profound betrayal of it. When Democrats are in power, Republicans think our democracy is imperiled; when Republicans are in power, Democrats do. Specific cases can be difficult to parse if you're not using this"

"A great virtue of Osita Nwanevu's new book, The Right of the People, is that it aims to define democracy in a precise and rigorous way so that it can become clear what it is and isn't, at least by his lights. Nwanevu is a journalist, with the advantage in felicity of expression that this entails, but unlike most journalists, he is also highly conversant in political philosophy and political science."

Democracy has become a rhetorical shield that loses meaning when used exclusively to condemn opponents. Partisan claims of democratic peril flip depending on which party is out of power, making specific cases hard to evaluate. Examples include whether firing a Senate-confirmed Fed chair, gerrymandering, attacks on scientific institutions, and changes like early or mail voting are antidemocratic. A coherent account requires a precise definition that connects voting to actual governance, so electoral choices translate into accountability. The American democratic system needs structural change to make votes meaningful and to distinguish legitimate power from manipulative or illegitimate practices.

Read at The Nation