Has America become "ungovernable"?
I have a simple three-step test to indicate whether a country is "governable":If your answer to any of these questions is "yes", then you may be living in a country that is ungovernable, and should consult the World Bank, or an arms dealer, if the symptoms do not resolve within a week.
- Is it having, about to have, or living in the aftermath of, a coup?
- Has the civil war killed at least 1% of the population?
- If an alien landed and demanded to be taken to see a representative of your government, would you be unable to comply with this request?
Otherwise, you are living in a functional nation-state. You may not like what the government does (or doesn't do), but it is governable, and indeed, is being governed right this very minute!
I'm as tired of the GOP's crap-tactics as anyone, and not necessarily because I'm a huge fan of Obama's proposed reforms. Still, I agree with McArdle. A little gridlock (or a lot) doesn't make the country ungovernable.
