Big Think

Question: Is the American Political System Broken?

Bill Richardson:

It is broken, especially the relationship between the Congress and the President. It’s a dysfunctional relationship. But most importantly it’s broken because the American people don’t trust their government, and they’re so pessimistic about their government. What I believe is needed is somebody that can bring the country together, that can heal the wounds of the country. We think of ourselves as red states, blue states. We’re deeply divided over immigration, over Iraq, the lack of healthcare; a middle class that is straining when it comes to pensions; when it comes to foreclosures; wages that are not keeping up to inflation with jobs going overseas; that I think the American people wanna see . . . and wanna be inspired. They wanna believe in the system again. They want somebody to be bipartisan; to create a citizens’ core of activists that can mobilize public opinion to deal with the problems that affect America. And that’s what I’m running for President. I believe that I can once again bring people together, and once again I know how to govern. Recorded on: 11/20/07