In today’s New York Times, columnist David Brooks wonders why, if “liberals” have so much “cultural power,” why are they so weak politically. Brooks posits that two perceptions are responsible: a) that “liberals” believe in the federal government, and b) that the federal government is not trustworthy or effective.
Brooks says: “Why don’t Americans trust their government? It’s not because they dislike individual programs like Medicare. It’s more likely because they think the whole system is rigged. Or to put it in the economists’ language, they believe the government has been captured by rent-seekers. This is the disease that corrodes government at all times and in all places.” Interestingly, Brooks concedes that “Some of these rent-seeking groups are corporate types.”
Making things worse for the Dems themselves, Brooks notes: “In an attempt to match Republican rhetoric, Democratic politicians are perpetually soiling the name of government for the sake of short-term gain. How many times have you heard Democrats from Carter to Obama running against Washington, accusing it of being insular, shortsighted, corrupt and petty? If the surgeon himself thinks his tools are rancid, why shouldn’t you?”
All good questions.