The United States is more democratic than many of its critics
believe and less democratic than it could be. Americans
aspire to democracy and over the years have made considerable advances along the democratic road, but democracy is still incomplete. The suggestions that follow speak in general terms about what can be done to make America more democratic.

Popular Sovereignty

The linkage between what the people want and what government does can be strengthened. At a minimum, the American people must increase the degree to which they participate in politics. Changes in the current voter registration process need to be made in order to allow broader participation in elections.

Improving political parties is probably the single most important step to improving democracy in the United States. Strong and internally democratic parties are the linchpins of democracy and should be made stronger.

Finally, improving the quality of public discourse and deliberation would also increase democracy in America. This might mean, among other things, diversifying news sources and the range of views that are readily available in the mainstream media. Campaigns might also be improved by providing public funding for debates and advertising.

Political Equality

Income and wealth inequality are eventually translated into political inequality. Some Americans believe that the only way to eliminate this problem is to make American society and economy more equal. Many other Americans believe, however, that policies to redistribute income and wealth would threaten liberty and undermine the efficiency of a free enterprise economy.

Besides controlling the effects of money in American politics, the most important step that could be taken to enhance political equality would be to diminish the power of interest groups. Strict controls on their activities, however, would not work well and might intrude on the liberty of individuals and groups to speak freely, assemble, and petition the government. Probably the single most effective action to control the effects of interest groups is to strengthen the institutions of majoritarian democracy, particularly democratic political parties.

Protection of Liberty

There is no reform program to offer concerning liberty. The best advice is as follows: practice tolerance in your own life and insist that public officials do the same.

So What?

Does it matter that democracy remains incomplete? If you believe that democracy is both the optimal way for a society to make decisions about its public business and the form of decision making that best develops the capacities and capabilities of human beings, then it matters.