Article Summary Example: The Governing Cancer of Our Time

The article The Governing Cancer of Our Time by David Brooks talks about how interest groups have ruined American politics thus destroying the American Dream. It starts by pointing out the two main ways of maintaining order in a diverse society: either by use of politics or dictatorship. The founding fathers of America chose politics since it follows a set of rules to recognize the interest and opinions of different groups in a legitimate way. However, reaching the compromises of different groups of people implies that not all their interest and opinions will be taken into consideration. However, politics is still better than authoritarianism where one person uses force to get things done his/her way. Despite politics being the preferable method of maintaining order in a diverse society, interest groups are destroying the political process by wanting the election of people with no political skills or experience.

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Interest groups that are against politics have become increasingly popular over the past few years. These groups want people in power to have no political experience and are willing to do whatever they can to ensure that their needs are met. They care only about themselves and do not recognize the interests and opinions of other people. Their actions weaken the American democracy since the people who they want to be elected have no political skills to run a functional government. Additionally, the antipolitics people make unrealistic promises and expectations which when not met, makes voters dissatisfied hence turning further in their direction.

The article gives an example of Donald Trump as one of the candidates of antipolitics campaigns. Rather than having everyones interests and opinions heard then a compromise made, according to David Brooks, Donald Trump feels that he is always right and that everyone who opposes or disagrees with him is an idiot, a moron, or a loser. His supporters are against politics as they want a superhero who would meet all their needs. The article states the findings of the political scientist Matthew MacWilliams that Trump supporters prefer authoritarianism over politics.

The article concludes by stating that it is not only in America that politics is declining and authoritarianism is on the rise, but also in the rest of the world. Brooks goes on further to say that politics is what will make Trump maintain harmony in the nation as it will ensure recognition of the existence of different groups of people and reaching these compromises in a legitimate way. To make his point clear, David Brooks quotes Harold Laskis words We shall make the basis of our state consent to disagreement. Therein shall ensure its deepest harmony.

The article represents the term interest groups in politics which is in the class readings. Interest groups try to influence public policy so as to create changes in political processes. These groups play various roles in American politics such as representation, education, participation and program monitoring. Regardless of the function of the interest group, what remains clear is that they do whatever they can to ensure that matters important to them are met. The article The Governing Cancer of Our Time shows how interest groups have destroyed the American political process by demanding the election of people who have no political experience. Such actions were evident in the recent American elections where Donald Trump was chosen as the Republican candidate yet he did not have any political skills or experience. As a result, anyone who has conflicting interests with his is wrong and considers them as losers.

Works Cited

Brooks, David. "The Governing Cancer Of Our Time." The New York Times. N.p., 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.