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A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of American Political Corruption Hardcover – February 10, 2015

by Jay Cost (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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After the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” Franklin’s response: “A Republic—if you can keep it.”

This book argues: we couldn’t keep it.

A true republic privileges the common interest above the special interests. To do this, our Constitution established an elaborate system of checks and balances that separates power among the branches of government, and places them in conflict with one another. The Framers believed that this would keep grasping, covetous factions from acquiring enough power to dominate government. Instead, only the people would rule.

Proper institutional design is essential to this system. Each branch must manage responsibly the powers it is granted, as well as rebuke the other branches when they go astray. This is where subsequent generations have run into trouble: we have overloaded our government with more power than it can handle. The Constitution's checks and balances have broken down because the institutions created in 1787 cannot exercise responsibly the powers of our sprawling, immense twenty-first century government.

The result is the triumph of special interests over the common interest. James Madison called this factionalism. We know it as political corruption.

Corruption today is so widespread that our government is not so much a republic, but rather a special interest democracy. Everybody may participate, yes, but the contours of public policy depend not so much on the common good, but rather the push-and-pull of the various interest groups encamped in Washington, DC.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    408 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Encounter Books
  4. Publication date
    February 10, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.5 x 9.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1594037272
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1594037276
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"In explaining "corruption as a permanent, institutionalized feature of our government," Jay Cost has made a major contribution to American history and political science. His narrative is detailed and lively, accessible to citizens and scholars alike. And he makes a case for reform while suggesting its limits. A real tour de force." -William Kristol. Editor, The Weekly Standard

About the Author

Jay Cost has been a top political analyst for nearly a decade. Currently a writer for the "Weekly Standard," he got his start writing at RealClearPolitics.com. His work has been featured in the "Wall Street Journal," the "New York Post," "National Review," FoxNews.com, "National Affairs" and "Policy Review." His first book, "Spoiled Rotten," was a critical history of the Democratic party published in 2012 by Broadside Books. He received a B.A. with High Distinction in government and history from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in political science from the University of Chicago. He resides in Western Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Encounter Books (February 10, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1594037272
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1594037276
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.66 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.5 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

About the author

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Jay Cost

Jay Cost

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Jay Cost is the Gerald R. Ford nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on political theory, Congress, and elections. He is also a visiting scholar at Grove City College and a contributing editor at the Washington Examiner.

His books include James Madison: America’s First Politician (Basic Books, 2021); The Price of Greatness: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and the Creation of American Oligarchy (Basic Books, June 2018); and A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of Political Corruption (Encounter Books, 2015). He earned a PhD in political science from the University of Chicago and a BA in government and history from the University of Virginia.

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4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

David A. Beck
5.0 out of 5 stars A sweeping, but concise, analysis of corruption across American history
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book provides a nice overview of the history of political corruption in America and how it has flourished because of how our system is structured. It does a particularly excellent job of discussing examples of corruption across American history - from the First Bank of the United States all the way up to regulatory capture and problems in the business tax code in the current day. Jay Cost particularly shines in his discussion of problems from the founding through World War II. The prose is excellent and makes this a quick read.

He keeps the focus of the book narrowly on the history of this in America, which keeps the scope narrow. Other than a few pages at the end he does not speculate on solutions. I would love to see Jay elaborate more on this. I would also be curious to what extent parliamentary democracies suffer from similar problems. My sense from Mr. Cost's columns and podcast is he is not a fan of these systems, but the discussion in the book about the problems with locally elected legislators makes one wonder if other systems merely change how corruption works.
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Jim
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for every voter
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
It is difficult to consider anything negative to say about this book. It breaks down the ideal of our founding with the reality of the capture of the government by the major political parties and the graft that requires to maintain it.

It kind of puts to mind some of the most dire warnings from the founders about having a republic if you can keep it, and having men of strong character leading the government. It didn't take long after the founding for the weakness in the government to show as it's role continued to expand without accompanying adjustments to take into account these new powers. Starting with the first national bank under Hamilton, he shows how whether the act was good or not (Hamilton bank's being good and with good results because he was a genius) it started to create cracks in our republic, and how over time, it allowed men and women of suspect character to utilize the power of government for their personal enrichment. Over time the political class continued to create systems of graft and corruption in the pure quest for power. Obviously, he finds the sprawling modern day DC power structure a real issue for us going forward.

It is a fascinating read and a good history lesson for anyone wanting to know more about how and why our government works the way it does and for why we should be careful what we wish for from the government by way of programs and services.
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Interested customer
4.0 out of 5 stars This is hugely informing book that makes a great complement to Lessig's "Republic Lost"
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2015
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This is hugely informing book that makes a great complement to Lessig's "Republic Lost". Both deal with the reality that our politicians are not able, much less willing, to do the job that our High School Civics course claimed they were elected for. Lessig argues that the problem is good people trapped in a bad system. Cost takes a broader view of what constitutes "corruption," finding it in any action which favors one "faction" of the citizenry over another, with little concern about what policy would be best for the populace as a whole, and finds that form of "corruption" epidemic. Cost covers his version of corruption over the history of our country; showing that his version has been part of our federal government almost from the beginning, providing our current incumbents with lots of lessons about how to avoid detection. While there may be some difference between the simple venality which Lessig pursues, and the more esoteric "corruption" Cost attacks, it appears that that the net results are quite similar. In the not-so-good old days when the federal government controlled somewhat less money, it was harder to just make dollars appear in he hands of favored Interests, although the politicians were doing what they could for their friends.. Today, with the federal government spending over $3.6 Trillion dollars a year,--about $10 Billion every DAY, the opportunities for a politician to divert a few dollars to his supporters' purposes without breaking, or even bending, any laws are limitless.

Whatever the shortcomings of our government, there are some elements which defy legalistic solutions. First, it is run by mortals. Some of whom may be saints, others of whom may be more fallible. Second, these mortals run for election locally in front of voters who want to know what's been done for them. Finally, all, or at least the vast majority, of these humans want to keep their jobs, and that requires currying favor with sources of campaign contributions, the media, and the voters; and never doing or saying anything that can become a negative sound bite on the 10 o'clock news or social media. Perhaps we are getting the best politicians we are entitled to, given the vagaries of our system.

Since the authors couldn't come up with what I considered a reasonable solution, a few thoughts of my own. I have long been a fan of sortition--the selection of our political leaders by lot. A system that is reputed to have been used in Ancient Greece, and is used today in such things as jury pools. To paraphrase William Buckley, I would rather by governed by 100 people selected by lot than by 100 men who want power. It's an idea which requires lots of development, but it meets the basic test of keeping those who want power away from office.

A perhaps more achievable solution might be serious term limits on Congresspersons, limiting their stay in office to a period such as 6 or 12 years (chosen to coincide with the Senate term). I would also prevent a termed-out Congressperson from running again for any public office for a term of at least 4 years, so as to avoid the growing problem of politicians whose only activity in office is strategizing for the next position. Again, I would far father have men and women who accept office as a duty or responsibility than a chance to run things.

Both books are a bit longer than might seem absolutely necessary. But both of them force the reader to think about the sorry state of our politics today, and whether there is any solution for our slide towards turning over complete control of the economy to a group of men and women who want to control the government, and hand out favors to their supporters,
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lancelot
5.0 out of 5 stars The Once and Future Republic?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2015
Verified Purchase
A sad commentary on modern times at American High. One wonders how the Constitution has been ignored with such apparent impunity and begs the question of who's responsible.
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