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Politics in the Trenches: Citizens, Politicians, and the Fate of Democracy
Politics in the Trenches Citizens Politicians and the Fate of Democracy Author:Thomas J. Volgy With suspicion and distrust of public servants running high, many citizens seem dispirited by the very process that has made the United States a showcase for democracy. Now the former mayor of a major western city argues that most elected officials are the very opposite of what the public thinks: honest, hardworking people whose real work goes ... more »unnoticed by most of their constituents and the media. Volgy has interviewed more than 300 elected officials from all over the U.S. to offer a decidedly contrarian view of politics. He shows that officeholders are for the most part average citizens motivated by a sense of civic duty; yet once elected they give up their personal lives and fall prey to every conceivable brickbat of public and media outrage. His book offers a fresh perspective on democratic governance, warning us that we could lose true democracy if we don't get involved.« less