什麼是政治機器

美國政治界用語，指一個政黨組織掌握了足夠選票以控制地方政治及行政資源。19世紀美國都市的快速成長，造成市政的重大難題，市政府經常無法順利組成、且無法有效提供服務。行動積極的政治人物，對於新進市民多會給予一些好處以交換選票取得支持，例如工作機會或住宅的優惠補助。政治機器通常都只把市政府重新改造成獨厚自己選民的形態，並且造成施政品質不佳（因為工作機會常被當作政治酬庸）、貪瀆橫行（因為合約和專賣權常被當作政治回報）、種族及族羣仇恨惡化（因為政治機器經常不能反映多樣化意見）。不過，改革措施、郊區發展及人口流動造成的鄰里聯帶關係淡化，都會導致政治機器控制力削弱。美國史上着名的政治機器有：紐約的特維德（William Marcy Tweed）、波士頓的柯利（James Michael Curley）、堪薩斯市的彭德加斯（Thomas Pendergast）、芝加哥的戴雷（Richard Daley）。亦請參閲civil service。

political machine

In U.S. politics, a political-party organization that controls enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of its community. The rapid growth of cities in the 19th century created huge problems for city governments, which were often poorly structured and unable to provide services. Enterprising politicians were able to create support by doing favors for newcomers in exchange for votes, including giving out patronage jobs and housing. Though machines often helped restructure city governments to the benefit of their constituents, they just as often resulted in poorer service (when jobs were doled out as political rewards), corruption (when contracts or concessions were awarded in return for kickbacks), and aggravation of racial or ethnic hostilities (when the machine did not reflect the city's diversity). Reforms, suburban flight, and a more mobile population with fewer ties to city neighborhoods have all contributed to weakening machine politics. Famous machines have included those of William Marcy Tweed (New York), James Michael Curley (Boston), Thomas Pendergast (Kansas City, Mo.), and Richard Daley (Chicago). See also civil service.