资料图:美国众议院共和党领袖麦卡锡。中新社记者 沙晗汀摄
由于两党对立加剧、党派内斗、利益分配不均等因素,众议长选举陷入一场拉锯战。在此次众议长竞选中,美国民主党议员继续抱团,多轮投票中,一票不投麦卡锡,共和党右翼“强硬派”领头的约20人小团体也拒绝投票麦卡锡。
麦卡锡的当选之路一波三折,除了本人的“政治投机派”角色在国会不受欢迎外,与共和党内部政治分歧关系密切。
一方面,共和党党内反对者认为,麦卡锡对民主党态度过于软弱,无力对抗民主党控制的参议院和拜登政府,另一方面,因为共和党的多数优势微弱,党内一些影响力较小的派系的政治力量则被放大,有利于他们巩固自己的选票。
此外,党内反对者也认为,自己的选票没有换取更多利益,希望以此作为筹码换取麦卡锡更大的让步,比如让他们获得众议院重要委员会中的职务。
作为仅次于美国总统、副总统的政坛三号人物,众议院议长通常由众议院多数党领袖担任,选举几乎没有悬念。然而,麦卡锡此次为当选,不得不做出多个关键让步,其中可能包括恢复一项罢黜议长动议机制,使得众议长的权力被削弱,难以掌控众议院。
美国有线电视新闻网CNN称,麦卡锡在这场不合时宜的政治勒索中作出让步,这种绥靖政策只会让极端主义势力更加强大。
这场引发全世界围观的尴尬选举暴露出美国政治存在严重的对立和分化。在权力博弈思维的裹挟下,党派利益凌驾于国家和人民利益之上,美国两党相互拆台,陷入“为反对而反对”的无脑对垒。而即便是一党内,也会因为利益分配问题产生不同的小派系,相互对抗,选票变成了谋利益的工具。
从国会山骚乱到打破记历史记录的15轮众议长选举,“对抗式民主”让美国政治陷入瓶颈,长期对抗势必会让政客们丧失客观公正的判断能力,其政治阶层是否有能力治理国家也会引发质疑。
两党之争和党派内斗进一步放大了美国政治体制弊病,美国所谓的“民主”形象,让全世界大跌眼镜。鼓吹以选民利益为先的美式选举,变成了政客们利益置换的游戏,进一步彰显出美国“民主政治”日渐失能,不断极化的党争已使美国政治制度陷入死循环。
House speaker election reveals deep-rooted problems in U.S. democracy
(ECNS) -- The Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 15 ballots. As the most grueling House speaker election in the past 164 years, the election has highlighted the defects of the country’s "confrontational democracy".
The election once reached a stalemate due to intense partisan strife, inner-party struggle among the Republicans, uneven distribution of interests, and more. Democratic Party members forged a close alliance, refusing to vote for McCarthy, while about 20 Republicans also declined to cast ballots for the GOP leader.
Except for his unpopular role as a "political speculator" in Congress, McCarthy’s hard-won election can be attributed to turmoil within the Republican Party.
On the one hand, opponents in the Republican Party believe that the GOP leader's attitude toward the Democrats is too weak to confront the Senate controlled by Democrats and the Biden administration.
On the other hand, the political power of some less influential factions in the Republican Party has been amplified due to the Party’s weak majority advantage in the House of Representatives, which is conducive to consolidating their ticket warehouses.
Meanwhile, these opponents believe that their votes failed to win them more benefits, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip for McCarthy's further concessions, such as getting them positions in important House Committees.
As the third political figure after the President and Vice President of the U.S., the speaker, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
But McCarthy has made many concessions in order to bring the ultra conservatives along, involving what’s known as the “motion to vacate,” a mechanism by which members can force a vote to depose the speaker. The reported concessions will empower individual members at the expense of McCarthy’s sway as speaker.
CNN thought the concessions he made during this unseemly political shakedown would only make the extremist faction more powerful.
This embarrassing election, which has drawn global attention, exposed the serious opposition and polarization in American politics. Both Democrats and Republicans put their interests before that of the country and its people, attacking and opposing each other irrationally.
Besides, different factions arise within a single party and confront each other because of the distribution of interests. Votes have become a tool to win more benefits.
From Capitol riots to the House Speaker election with record-breaking ballots, "confrontational democracy" has become a bottleneck of American politics. Long-term confrontation will surely impede politicians to think objectively and fairly while their capacity of governing the country will also raise doubts among the public.
Both parties’ struggle and infighting among the Republicans have further amplified the defects of the American political system, with its "democratic" image shocking the world.
The U.S.-style election, which advocates putting voters' interests first, has become a game of interest exchange among politicians. In addition, it further demonstrates the malfunction of American "democratic politics" and the constantly polarized party struggle that has trapped the American political system into an infinite cycle.
点一盏心灯,暖一院人生——“电亲戚”与盲人邻居的第61个春节******
新春走基层丨点一盏心灯,暖一院人生——“电亲戚”与盲人邻居的第61个春节
新华社沈阳1月11日电题:点一盏心灯,暖一院人生——“电亲戚”与盲人邻居的第61个春节
新华社记者王炳坤、于也童、武江民
小年快到了,33岁的杨迪身穿工装、腰挎电工包,拎着米、面、油等年货,穿行在沈阳市铁西区“盲人大院”的几栋居民楼之间。
刚爬上7楼,还没等他腾出手敲门,屋里就传来熟悉的声音,“是小杨迪吧。”因为来的次数多,76岁的盲人阿姨邱淑华光凭脚步声就能“认出”他,“这几天我正念叨你呢,你就来了!”
1月5日,杨迪为邱淑华送去节日慰问品。(新华社记者武江民 摄)
“盲人大院”是民政福利企业原沈阳市互感器厂盲人职工的宿舍,20世纪60年代曾有70余户盲人住在这里。他们虽然眼睛看不见,可日子总是光亮的。杨迪是国网沈阳供电公司郭家供电营业所第14任所长,61年来,郭家供电营业所一直守护着这里,“电亲戚”们定期上门维护线路、维修电器、打扫卫生,为盲人们点亮了一盏盏“心灯”。
走进邱淑华家,杨迪一放下年货,就开启了“电工模式”。他顺着墙上的线路,从电箱、电线到各类电器,不放过一个细节地检查。“刮风下雨必到、下雪必到、逢年过节必到,这是老所长定下的规矩。”杨迪说,“这个习惯保持了60余年,我们要把它延续下去。”
1月9日, 郭家供电营业所员工在“盲人大院”为一户盲人居民完成线路检查后,准备前往下一户继续进行检查。(新华社记者潘昱龙 摄)
“盲人大院”和郭家供电营业所的故事开始于1962年。那时,“盲人大院”还是平房,盲人们共用一块电表,算起电费不免发生口角。抄表员刘继增体谅盲人们的难处,他挨家挨户把电费算清楚,“一户不落,一分不差”。
盲人们打心眼里佩服这个实在人,也对他产生了依赖。郭家供电营业所了解情况后,干脆让每一任抄表员担任联络员,成了盲人们的“电亲戚”。
几十年来,“盲人大院”的“电亲戚”越来越多,由一代代抄表员,扩大为郭家所的全体员工。国网沈阳供电公司还专门组建了“郭家爱心团队”,盲人们外出办事他们陪同,盲人们缺啥要啥他们代购,盲人们生病受伤他们照料……从最初的排忧解难到而今的呵护陪伴,82岁的佟德禄说:“远亲不如近邻,供电所离得近,有大事小情我们一个电话,‘电亲戚’们保准就会出现在身边。”
从邱淑华家出来,杨迪和爱心团队成员来到“盲人大院”的盲人活动室。墙壁上写有“2023年新春慰问活动”的红色横幅,让这里“年味儿”十足。一名志愿者掏出剪刀、推子,凭借老手艺为盲人们理发。几名盲人坐在长长的条凳上,你一言我一语地回忆他们与“电亲戚”的往事,怎么也唠不完。
“我印象最深的是一个三伏天,有一家下水道堵了,咱所的许刚一只手拿铁钩,另一只手戴上手套伸到便池里面,硬生生给‘掏’通了。”73岁的矫淑芬说。
“每年冬天一下大雪,我们还在睡梦中,一听到外面哗啦啦的铁锹声,就知道是‘电亲戚’们扫雪来了。”75岁的盲人大爷肖德仁说,不管雪下多厚,从单元门出来肯定会有一条道;顺着这条道往外走,指定就能到达小区门口……
61年间,“盲人大院”从平房变成楼房,盲人住户从70余户减少至30余户,从年轻力壮变成垂垂老者。“电亲戚”虽然换了一茬又一茬,但每一批都随叫随到,默默守护在盲人邻居身边。
1月9日, 郭家供电营业所一位员工正在查看盲人居民用电情况。(新华社记者潘昱龙 摄)
下午4点左右,活动室的“2023年新春慰问活动”临近尾声。杨迪像往常一样,紧紧牵着邱淑华的手送她回家。独居的邱淑华说,她现在生活有保障,“有了你们这些亲戚来走动走动,就能过个好年,对新的一年充满希望。”
(文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎) [责编:天天中] 阅读剩余全文() |