WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mickey Edwards, a former congressional leader, said that the American political system is paralyzed by partisanship that threatens democracy.
The Oklahoma Republican, who was in Congress for 16 years and is currently vice president of the Aspen Institute, made his remarks at a recent lecture at Qorvis Communications' Qorvis University (QU) employee enrichment program.
He came to Qorvis to discuss his new book, The Parties Versus the People: How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans.
The intense partisanship poses a threat to the democracy we value so highly, Edwards said, adding that politicians' blind pursuit of political advantage has trumped bipartisan national interest. As a result, Congress—where the problem is the worst and the effects most disastrous—has become completely dysfunctional and unable to compromise on anything.
At QU, Edwards explained how our political system has become ensnared in a political gridlock and how this ultimately affects us as a nation that prides herself on democracy.
Edwards explained that in most states, the primary system favors politicians running on hard party lines. As such, potential candidates that moderate voters might have preferred don't even make it on the ballot. This results in candidates who play along party lines, instead of working for the best interests of their constituents.
At the end of his analysis of the current disarray of the American political system, Edwards explained his solution to the problem. It involves taking control of the elections from the political parties, and giving it back to the citizens.
Mickey Edwards was part of a QU lecture series that takes place at Qorvis. His lecture perfectly complemented election season, and the presidential debate Qorvis employees watched the night before.
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SOURCE Qorvis Communications