In the past decade, the difficulties that have beset the American polity have naturally engendered a host of explanations. By far the majority of those whose business it is to diagnose “the American sickness,” if there is such a thing, have argued that America is suffering because of the undue influence of “special interests.” And they go on to claim that their curative prescriptions, which are usually hazy, are in accord with the “founding principles” of American government.