ing efforts.
Demosclerosis, by Jonathan Rauch, details the declining ability of the American government to adapt and effectively manage after World War II. This ever progressive loss of adaptability is what the author coins, demosclerosis. This progressive loss of adaptability by the government in postwar America is partially caused by special interest groups, the normal political aging cycle, a parasitic economy, entitlements and, believe it or not, We, the people. Yet, by the time he ends his book, Rauch allows us to know that all is not loss and the deterioration of the American government’s ability to adapt can be overcome. However, it will take the combined forces of technology, diversity and the will of the American people to overcome obstacles in their will to survive. This analysis will review the author’s main points, and, his central contention that in order to unclog the American political artery, we must realize that we, as a nation, are the ones who help perpetuate this political disease.
According to Rauch’s (1994: 18) definition, “demosclerosis is postwar government’s progressive loss of the ability to adapt.” While this is not necessarily fatal to governments and nations, it is a destructive process, it is inherent, it is progressive and cunning, and, most of all, it is not someone else’s fault. Demosclerosis drains the vigor from the economy, diminishes the options government has at its disposal and it only gets worse the longer the time goes by that no actions to correct the disorder are taken. Demosclerosis loves to thrive in the more-for-me attitude of many special interest constituents. More than anything though, we need to realize that demosclerosis is caused not by liberals, democrats or republicans. Rather, it is a disease caused by you and me and the American public as we strive to receive benefits from a government that has a limited resource and management pool.
The process...