Power And Democracy In America.

Excerpt from Power and Democracy in AmericaProfessors Peter Drucker, Delbert Miller, and Robert Dahl approach this problem from very distinct vantage points, and this is clearly re?ected in the content Of their argument. Thus, the reader is treated to a spectrum of opposing views by a constitutional lawyer, a sociologist, and a political scientist. If there is little apparent agree ment among them, there is at least a sharpening of focus on the major facets of the problem Of individual freedom and decisionmaking in contemporary American society. The discussion opens with a paper by Professor Drucker on Individual Freedom and Effective Government in a Society Of superpowers. In bold, sweeping strokes, Drucker outlines the dramatic change that has occurred in the world since 1900, the change in the powerstructure and powerdynamics Of society. He briefly delineates some of the major dilemmas that have arisen to face us as a result Of this change dilemmas which are worldwide in scope. The heart of his discussion is the effect of this change on the federal and local levels of government in the United States, and the consequences for the individual citizen. The fol lowing questions form the focus Of his 1) How to restore effectiveness to government; (2) How to prevent interestgroup power centers from usurping governmental functions; and (3) How to safeguard and strengthen the freedom Of the person.