Watergate and Iran Contra are but examples of this trend. We all should remember that the experiment in democracy initiated by the Founding Fathers over two hundred years ago remains a very fragile exercise. We, as Americans, may lose our democratic traditions at any time. The danger today appears all the more ominous for we may lose these traditions without actually realizing it. This potential danger highlights another task or objective of the course, that of cutting through conventional wisdoms which mythically surround governmental institutions, processes and actors.
Conventional wisdoms seem to currently reign in America.
As we examine our political system it should become clear that all is not what it seems to be. Simple black and white solutions to complex problems may sound appropriate and appeal to the public but when these solutions are applied to the dingy grey world of reality they can quickly lose their applicability. Our task is to cut our way through the muck and mire of these conventional wisdoms. Only then can we confront our problem in a realistic fashion. While we shall examine the above mentioned complexities or problems throughout the course and discuss or imply remedies, it should be noted that these remedies are not presented as panaceas.