At the heart of American politics is a belief in self-government--the democratic faith that through argument, deliberation, and persuasion people are capable, in the long run, of discovering and promoting their common good. If such a faith sounds naive, consider the alternatives: rule by the most powerful, or rule by "experts," insiders, or whoever is exalted enough to tell other people what to do. Americans have chosen a very different approach--government by discussion--and it is at the very foundation of America's political institutions and procedures.

But American politics has been transformed in recent decades. The political system has become sensitive--indeed, hypersensitive--to the public's opinions and anxieties. The traditional parties and interest groups, as well as the Constitution, have been pushed into the background, as polls, the media, and ideological activists and advocacy groups have moved to the forefront. American democracy is more open and inclusive than ever before, and citizens have unprecedented access to information about the workings of their government and the issues before it. Yet instead of becoming more engaged in democratic politics, the public has grown alienated from it. Americans today typically report feeling like victims of the political system, like harried subjects more than proud citizens.

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