Matthew J. Dowd writing in the WSJ
* * *
Donald Trump is right. The political system is “rigged“ –
on both sides of the aisle.
I have faulted Mr. Trump numerous times in the past six
months: for, among other things, not growing as a candidate, for not using his
candidacy to unite the country, and for not putting together a professional
campaign operation that understands the rules of picking a nominee.
Trump has put himself in a position of capping his own
support and not winning more broadly.
If Donald Trump loses the GOP nomination, he ultimately
has only himself to blame. He is winning in spite of his campaign - not because
of it.
But he is right that the antiquated system of the two
major parties is a rigged process.
Yes, I understand that the rules were established long
ago and that this is the system we have. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t rigged.
Rules in any institution can be designed to favor a particular group or result.
Look at Wall Street and Washington, D.C.
Think about corporate inversions, in which companies play
by the rules to dodge taxes and protect assets. Or the broader tax code, which
has all sorts of “rules” that benefit those with resources to game the system.
Or trade policy, which often benefits a select group of large corporations or
special interests.
Many folks who take advantage in our economy are playing
by the rules. That doesn’t mean the system isn’t manipulated.
The same is fundamentally true in our political duopoly.
From a system that doesn’t seem to follow voters’ wishes in ballot results, to
delegates selected without voter input, to large numbers of super-delegates who
have more power in the nominating process than voters. There is potential for
back-room deals at conventions and caucuses across the U.S. In short, rigging
is rampant.
Think about baseball. Is it within the rules to steal
signs? Yes! And teams do it all the time! But just because something is
permissible doesn’t mean that it’s good...
(*NOD*)
Some permissible actions open the door for people to
question the validity of results. Just because something helps you win and is
within the rules doesn’t mean it is good for a sport, or for our politics, or
for the common good of our country.
A majority of Americans are incredibly frustrated with
the economy and political system. They see a cabal between Washington and Wall
Street excluding the concerns of working-class and middle America from the
discussion and the equation.
Donald Trump has been wrong about many things, and
ultimately he is accountable for the results of his campaign. But his campaign
and the primary process this year have revealed major flaws in our status-quo
politics. Gaming of the system by all sides undermines the will of voters and
breeds distrust. Americans are tired of an ends-justify-the-means approach to
leadership. If we fix the means of campaigns and governance, in the end good
will come.
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