M.A. Guinnane of Carmichael, California asks:

There are no Democrats, there are no Republicans – it’s all an illusion. The power behind it all happens to be giant corporate heads and big bankers. Will the changes in government really change the way government does business?

Sonia Jarvis responds:

I would agree with you that the immense amounts of money (in the hundred millions of dollars) expended during the 2000 elections does suggest that big money rather than the people determines how government functions. However, I would suggest that meaningful campaign finance reform would go a long way in helping to restore the balance of power to citizens rather than to corporate or special interests.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Mr. Nader argued that there was no appreciable difference between Democrats and Republicans, a view I do not share. Over the course of the next two years, starting with issues such as tax cuts, abortion rights, civil rights and the environment, I think that the American public will see real policy differences between the two major political parties. It will also be interesting to see whether or not those disaffected with both the Democratic and Republican Parties can build a third party alternative that is not dependent upon a dominant personality (like Ross Perot or Ralph Nader) but instead is based on a common agenda that is attractive across lines of economics, race, region, and class.

The only way government truly changes is when the electorate, those who show up to vote their preferences, makes the government change the way it conducts its business.

Theodore Lowi responds:

It is strange for such a proposition to be made following the 2000 election. We have not seen an election where the differences between the two major parties are more clear. Giant corporations and all large organizations have enormous power, but they tend to use their power to purchase individual leaders.

Whenever there are very big public issues on the table, the big organizations still have to make their peace with the parties. Many of these pressing issues are economic issues, where the corporations have the biggest stake, but it is very difficult, if not impossible, for any one or combination of corporations to buy a large public policy unless the entire leadership of both parties has been bought. This is why it is absolutely essential to have well-organized political parties and to follow the Woodrow Wilson dictum of "open decisions, openly arrived at." That's the best antidote to private power, corporate or otherwise.

Back to the beginning of this forum...

1) Is bipartisanship a realistic goal?

2) What will Bush have to do to garner Democrats' support?

3) Is bipartisanship only being discussed because it's currently popular?

4) Won't the real control over the political agenda come with Bush's appointments?

5) Will President Bush face the same political climate as President Clinton?

6) Will the transition in government really change the way the government does business?

The U.S. House of Representatives
The U.S. Senate
The White House