But expansive and expensive entitlements managed and dispensed by government bureaucracies achieve the same end using democratic means: the redistribution of wealth at the expense of the long-term planning and policies needed for civic and economic well-being. Today demosclerosis represents the most serious threat to the long-term vitality of American government. home to the headquarters for many lobbying firms and advocacy \end{aligned} 18 years old, citizen, registered voter. You'll also receive an email with the link. Sivan S, Birk OS. Demosclerosis, by Jonathan Rauch - Commentary Magazine interest groups stymie the government from governing the country Particularly worrisome is the increasing inclination to see the state not as an object of collective affection, duty, and loyalty in which individuals find some measure of their identities and meaning, but rather as a mere dispenser of entitlements that each faction tries to control for its own benefit. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Evidently, Jonathan Rauch prefers to preside dispassionately above the fray. Please do not edit the piece, ensure that you attribute the author and mention that this article was originally published on FEE.org. the control of the supply of money in the macro(entire) economy. Its a disease that saps the strength of the people who, ironically, are the ones who demand more and more from a government that gives them, in the end, less and less. The desmosterolosis phenotype: spasticity, microcephaly and Is anybody treated with Humira for child's scleroderma? For each activity or resource, choose the most appropriate cost-allocation base from the preceding list and indicate for each resource whether it is a fixed-cost F or variable-cost V resource. All rights reserved. Nor is structural analysis much use when we are confronted with a politician who is not well-intentionedwho likes to wield political power first and foremost for its own sake. their disposal. The process engineer at Strowbridge Metal Works has the choice of machining a particular part on either of two Meanwhile, the budget grows and the dollar sinks, the state swells and the individual shrinks. MyHoover delivers a personalized experience atHoover.org. Which machine is preferred if the order size is 100 units? Interest-groups also work to protect federal programs, subsidies, and tax breaks that are already in place so that cutting the federal budget becomes exceedingly difficult, despite widespread public support.