Government is necessary because it fulfills a number of important social functions, functions that reflect people's expectations of their government. First, government is expected to protect the citizenry from foreign aggressors and from threats to individual well-being. Regulatory agencies were established to protect citizens from threats to their well-being. Second, government is expected to secure social order. Third, government is expected to distribute power equitably so that citizens have an equal opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Fourth, government is expected to provide a safety net, a minimum standard of living below which it will not allow citizens to fall.
A number of problems of government and politics exist in the United States. There are inequalities in the distribution of power. Social scientists disagree about whether power is distributed in accord with a pluralistic or a power elite model. The failure of trust is a second problem. Americans trust most other institutions far more than they trust the government. This has a number of consequences: it leads to a lack of citizen participation in the political process; it alters people's voting patterns; and it leads to political alienation, a feeling of political disillusionment, powerlessness, and estrangement.
A third problem involves waste, corruption, and scandals in government. Waste refers to such things as excessive paperwork, excessive costs, and unnecessary expenditures. Corruption and scandals usually involve a politician acting in terms of self-interest or particular interest to the detriment of the politician's constituency or the general public.
Gridlock is a fourth problem. Gridlock means that the government is mired in inaction, unable to legislate significant new policies because of ideological conflict, party differences, or a standoff between the executive and legislative branches. Gridlock is likely to intensify the failure of trust.
Problems in government and politics affect the quality of life in a number of ways. Such problems mean that people have unequal opportunities for a high quality of life. They mean that the freedoms and rights of citizens are not always adequately protected and that the government is not adequately responsive to people's needs.
Various factors contribute to the problems of government and politics. The size of the population served and the size of the government itself both affect how well the government can function. The way the government is organized to fulfill its functions--the separation of powers between the national and state governments and the bureaucratic nature of government agencies--also creates some difficulties in effective functioning. On the other hand, the government is not organized so as to deal effectively with waste and corruption.
The costs and financing methods of campaigning have particularly adverse effects. Many social scientists believe they threaten the democratic process itself, and virtually ensure politicians' unresponsiveness to people's needs.
The media also contribute to the problems. They are a substantial part of the cost of campaigns and determine the information and perspectives voters get about the candidates. They affect political agendas and actions of those in office, acting as an integral part of the governing of the nation. They also contribute to the failure of trust.
Interest groups have become an increasingly important part of American political life through contributions, lobbyists, and influence on voting blocs. Interest groups can affect legislation in a way that protects particular interests to the detriment of the general well-being.
Social psychological factors that contribute to the problems include the attitudes of the public and the ideologies of politicians. Negative attitudes of the public lead to alienation and withdrawal from political life; contrary attitudes pose a dilemma for politicians. Ideological positions of politicians can lead to gridlock.