Off Center: The Republican Revolution and the Erosion of American Democracy

The Republicans who run American government today have defied the normal laws of political gravity. They have ruled with the slimmest of majorities and yet have transformed the nation's governing priorities. They have strayed dramatically from the moderate middle of public opinion and yet have faced little public backlash. Again and again, they have sided with the affluent and ideologically extreme while paying little heed to the broad majority of Americans. And much more often than not, they have come out on top. This book shows why-and why this troubling state of affairs can and must be changed.Written in a highly accessible style by two professional political scientists, Off Center tells the story of a deliberative process restricted and distorted by party chieftains, of unresponsive power brokers subverting the popular will, and of legislation written by and for powerful interests and deliberately designed to mute popular discontent. In the best tradition of engaged social science, Off Center is a powerful and informed critique that points the way toward a stronger foundation for American democracy

Suggesting that the Republicans who run American government have defied the normal laws of political gravity, this book tells the story of a deliberative process restricted and distorted by party chieftains, of unresponsive power brokers subverting the popular will, and of legislation written and deliberately designed to mute popular discontent.

The Republicans who run American government today have defied the normal laws of political gravity. They have ruled with the slimmest of majorities and yet have transformed the nation's governing priorities. They have strayed dramatically from the moderate middle of public opinion and yet have faced little public backlash. Again and again, they have sided with the affluent and ideologically extreme while paying little heed to the broad majority of Americans. And they have come out on top. This book shows why--and why this state of affairs can and must be changed. Written by two professional political scientists, it tells the story of a deliberative process restricted and distorted by party chieftains, of unresponsive power brokers subverting the popular will, and of legislation written by and for powerful interests and deliberately designed to mute popular discontent.--From publisher description

Introduction -- Off center -- Partying with the "people's money" -- The off-center express -- The race to the base -- The Republican machine -- The center does not hold -- Conclusion: Meeting the challenge

Intro -- Contents -- Introduction -- Part I. Abandoning the Middle -- 1. Off Center -- 2. Partying with the "People's Money -- 3. New Rules for Radicals -- Part II. Broken Checks and Balances -- 4. The Race to the Base -- 5. The Republican Machine -- 6. The Center Does Not Hold -- Conclusion: Meeting the Challenge -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index.