资料图:美国众议院共和党领袖麦卡锡。中新社记者 沙晗汀摄
由于两党对立加剧、党派内斗、利益分配不均等因素,众议长选举陷入一场拉锯战。在此次众议长竞选中,美国民主党议员继续抱团,多轮投票中,一票不投麦卡锡,共和党右翼“强硬派”领头的约20人小团体也拒绝投票麦卡锡。
麦卡锡的当选之路一波三折,除了本人的“政治投机派”角色在国会不受欢迎外,与共和党内部政治分歧关系密切。
一方面,共和党党内反对者认为,麦卡锡对民主党态度过于软弱,无力对抗民主党控制的参议院和拜登政府,另一方面,因为共和党的多数优势微弱,党内一些影响力较小的派系的政治力量则被放大,有利于他们巩固自己的选票。
此外,党内反对者也认为,自己的选票没有换取更多利益,希望以此作为筹码换取麦卡锡更大的让步,比如让他们获得众议院重要委员会中的职务。
作为仅次于美国总统、副总统的政坛三号人物,众议院议长通常由众议院多数党领袖担任,选举几乎没有悬念。然而,麦卡锡此次为当选,不得不做出多个关键让步,其中可能包括恢复一项罢黜议长动议机制,使得众议长的权力被削弱,难以掌控众议院。
美国有线电视新闻网CNN称,麦卡锡在这场不合时宜的政治勒索中作出让步,这种绥靖政策只会让极端主义势力更加强大。
这场引发全世界围观的尴尬选举暴露出美国政治存在严重的对立和分化。在权力博弈思维的裹挟下,党派利益凌驾于国家和人民利益之上,美国两党相互拆台,陷入“为反对而反对”的无脑对垒。而即便是一党内,也会因为利益分配问题产生不同的小派系,相互对抗,选票变成了谋利益的工具。
从国会山骚乱到打破记历史记录的15轮众议长选举,“对抗式民主”让美国政治陷入瓶颈,长期对抗势必会让政客们丧失客观公正的判断能力,其政治阶层是否有能力治理国家也会引发质疑。
两党之争和党派内斗进一步放大了美国政治体制弊病,美国所谓的“民主”形象,让全世界大跌眼镜。鼓吹以选民利益为先的美式选举,变成了政客们利益置换的游戏,进一步彰显出美国“民主政治”日渐失能,不断极化的党争已使美国政治制度陷入死循环。
House speaker election reveals deep-rooted problems in U.S. democracy
(ECNS) -- The Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 15 ballots. As the most grueling House speaker election in the past 164 years, the election has highlighted the defects of the country’s "confrontational democracy".
The election once reached a stalemate due to intense partisan strife, inner-party struggle among the Republicans, uneven distribution of interests, and more. Democratic Party members forged a close alliance, refusing to vote for McCarthy, while about 20 Republicans also declined to cast ballots for the GOP leader.
Except for his unpopular role as a "political speculator" in Congress, McCarthy’s hard-won election can be attributed to turmoil within the Republican Party.
On the one hand, opponents in the Republican Party believe that the GOP leader's attitude toward the Democrats is too weak to confront the Senate controlled by Democrats and the Biden administration.
On the other hand, the political power of some less influential factions in the Republican Party has been amplified due to the Party’s weak majority advantage in the House of Representatives, which is conducive to consolidating their ticket warehouses.
Meanwhile, these opponents believe that their votes failed to win them more benefits, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip for McCarthy's further concessions, such as getting them positions in important House Committees.
As the third political figure after the President and Vice President of the U.S., the speaker, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
But McCarthy has made many concessions in order to bring the ultra conservatives along, involving what’s known as the “motion to vacate,” a mechanism by which members can force a vote to depose the speaker. The reported concessions will empower individual members at the expense of McCarthy’s sway as speaker.
CNN thought the concessions he made during this unseemly political shakedown would only make the extremist faction more powerful.
This embarrassing election, which has drawn global attention, exposed the serious opposition and polarization in American politics. Both Democrats and Republicans put their interests before that of the country and its people, attacking and opposing each other irrationally.
Besides, different factions arise within a single party and confront each other because of the distribution of interests. Votes have become a tool to win more benefits.
From Capitol riots to the House Speaker election with record-breaking ballots, "confrontational democracy" has become a bottleneck of American politics. Long-term confrontation will surely impede politicians to think objectively and fairly while their capacity of governing the country will also raise doubts among the public.
Both parties’ struggle and infighting among the Republicans have further amplified the defects of the American political system, with its "democratic" image shocking the world.
The U.S.-style election, which advocates putting voters' interests first, has become a game of interest exchange among politicians. In addition, it further demonstrates the malfunction of American "democratic politics" and the constantly polarized party struggle that has trapped the American political system into an infinite cycle.
【活力中国】商场消费“年味儿”浓:餐厅排长队 黄金消费市场升温******
中新网1月16日电(中新财经 左雨晴) 春节将至,随着疫情防控措施的不断优化,人们的出行增多,线下消费的活力逐渐释放,各大商圈被浓浓的年味包裹。
商圈人潮如织 餐厅非正餐时段也排队
1月14日,在北方小年的这一天,北京西单大悦城客流涌动,不少店铺的交款处排起了长队。其中,餐厅生意尤为红火。
“下午两点多逛完商场想找个地方吃饭,结果问了好几家餐厅,全部都要排队20桌左右。”一名消费者向中新财经感叹,“花了半个多小时找餐厅,又等了半个小时的位置,这下真有了过年的感觉。”
商场中排队的顾客。左雨晴 摄中新财经注意到,从中午正餐时间到晚上,西单大悦城多数餐厅的门口都不乏等位的人;一些茶饮店和点心店铺点单处也排起的长队……伴随着餐桌上食物的香气升腾,年味愈发浓郁。
为迎接春节,不少商场举办了年货节促销活动。例如,朝阳大悦城针对餐饮、黄金珠宝、鞋帽衣饰多个品类给予了满减优惠,并推荐了多个特色店铺;君太百货除满减和满赠优惠外,还推出购物抽奖、小程序集卡抽奖等活动;北京荟聚中心则推出多种1元秒杀券、超百家品牌参与的满减活动,并针对儿童推出免费游乐体验活动,让孩子在新年的氛围中享受快乐。
岁末添金黄金消费市场升温
岁末添金,是不少人过年图个“好彩头”的方式。尽管近期黄金价格呈上涨趋势,也未能挡住人们购买黄金的热情。
在北京菜百首饰总店,黄金购买区连日来持续回暖,销售人员忙得不可开交。中新财经注意到,在买金的各色人群中,既有带着孩子前来的父母,也有头发花白的老人,更有不少年轻人的身影。
菜百首饰总店转运珠柜台前购买的人群。 左雨晴 摄其中,转运珠最受消费者欢迎,柜台前人群层层交叠,最外围的顾客踮脚探头也难以窥见柜台上的展品。现场不得不临时建起购物通道,引导消费者有序购买交款。“没想到买个配转运珠的编织绳也要排队。”一位带着孩子的母亲如是说,她为孩子选购了一款兔子样式的转运珠。
同样受到欢迎的,还有投资金条。销售人员告诉中新财经,与黄金首饰相比,金条价格相对便宜,也更适合投资。
中新财经观察发现,在各类投资金条中,兔子图案的金条最受欢迎。“毕竟是兔年,保值的同时也有纪念意义。”一名消费者向中新财经表示。
白酒市场回暖 中高档最受欢迎
2022年的白酒市场,存货压力引起业内关注。临近春节,白酒市场再度回暖。
中新财经走访发现,目前不少百元价位的白酒仍处于买赠或返现的促销活动中。北京某烟酒超市的销售人员告诉中新财经,春节前白酒有相应的打折促销,中高档酒较受欢迎,高端白酒行情较好,这使得白酒的库存压力有所减轻。
北京某商超内,百元价位的白酒仍处于买赠或返现的促销活动中。 左雨晴 摄白酒市场的回暖同样出现在低线城市。
某低线城市的商场负责人向中新财经表示,近期白酒价格平稳,销售额同比提升5%。“主要是名酒提动了销售额。”他表示,目前200-400元价位的白酒销售较好,茅台、五粮液等高端酒销售额提升了约12%。
值得一提的是,为迎接春节,茅台、五粮液、泸州老窖、古井贡酒等多家白酒企业还推出了兔年生肖酒,其中多数为限量发售。
促消费 多地发放消费券
为激发消费活力,近日来多地密集发放各类消费券,并推出一系列促消费活动。
例如,1月5日,广州宣布1月17日将再次向社会发放第二轮1000万元消费券,有效使用期覆盖整个新春假期;1月6日起,郑州陆续发放1500万元家电消费券;1月10日至2月28日期间,沈阳发放1亿元新春消费券;1月11日,天津第二期“津乐购”消费券发放活动正式启动,总计发放1.15亿元……
有媒体报道称,2022年12月份以来,已有超过40个城市宣布发放消费券,覆盖汽车、餐饮、冰雪运动、文旅等多个领域,部分地区还提出了景区减免门票吸引游客。
与此同时,线上促消费正与线下同步开展。据商务部介绍,“2023全国网上年货节”2022年12月30日至2023年1月28日举办,本次年货节的主会场设在广东,各地分会场也将举办各具特色的配套活动。各地共同行动,为消费者带来丰富多彩的网络促销活动。
商场中热闹的气氛、浓浓的年味,正向人们展示一个充满活力的中国。(完)
(文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎) [责编:天天中] 阅读剩余全文() |