And as society becomes more diverse, non-governmental interests become more time absorbing, with political parties unable consistently to accommodate a growing number of individual perspectives on increasingly complex problems. Indeed, given the lack of citizen interest in participating at the precinct, county, and state levels in party committees, it is crucial that political parties become understood as much broader than their organizational structure. The country owes a debt of gratitude to those who give of their time to hold party structures together but parties should be understood as broad collectives of involved citizens with shared values but often with many members who never go to party confabs, sometimes don't vote, and frequently migrate from one party to another as issues evolve, leaders emerge, and judgments change. The day when one was born into a party and never left ended with the New Deal America in the 21 st Century must discover ways to lead and produce leaders in a manner different than in our first two centuries. This is likely but not exclusively to extend broad maintenance of a two party system but the parties themselves will have to be adaptive to changing times and changing views of citizenship.
American democracy is in transition.
As we move to the first election of the new century it is clear that moneyed politics has come to hold too pervasive an influence in our political system, that simple issues have come to play too great a role, and that imperfect leaders exercise too large a sway. It is time for democratic renewal, as much as reform, for uplifting the national dialogue, for leadership that excites and involves those who have voluntarily opted out of the political process.