Thomas E. Mann

Sociologist

1944-09-10

Quotes by Thomas E. Mann

• The country has sorted itself ideologically into the two political parties, and those partisan attachments have hardened in recent years. It will take an extraordinary event and act of leadership to break this partisan divide. I thought 9/11 might provide such an opportunity, but it was not seized.

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• With the parties at virtual parity and the ideological gulf between them never greater, the stakes of majority control of Congress are extremely high.

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• Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of election law typically resides with partisan officials, many with public stakes in the election outcome.

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• While Republican voters have remained universally supportive of their President, Democrats and Independents are returning to a more naturally critical stance.

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• But presidential approval also became a surrogate measure of national unity and patriotism.

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• Second, the President's popularity has not translated into increased support for the Republican party or for the policies and approaches on domestic policy championed by the President.

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• Votes in federal elections are cast and counted in a highly decentralized and variable fashion, with no uniform ballots and few national standards.

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• Redistricting is a deeply political process, with incumbents actively seeking to minimize the risk to themselves (via bipartisan gerrymanders) or to gain additional seats for their party (via partisan gerrymanders).

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• Incumbency adds a layer of advantage on top of this party dominance. But rather than foster an environment in which members of Congress feel free to buck popular sentiment and wrestle seriously with the problems confronting the country, it reinforces the ideological divide between the parties.

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