America's Third World Politics

Dani Rodrik is glad that the election is over, but he, and the rest of the developed world, were not impressed by the political campaign.  Both parties took liberty with the truth, but the GOP won that contest hands down.  There were several aspects of the campaign that resembled what we might expect to find in third world countries.  The unfortunate truth is that many parts of the US are more like third world world countries than we want to believe.  The electoral system also encourages the unlimited use of money to misinform the public on critical issues.  Fortunately, most Americans can distinguish advertising from fact.  We should not have to depend upon that.  America must take important steps to reestablish its position as a moral leader of the developed world, and an example to developing countries.