什么是政治机器

美国政治界用语，指一个政党组织掌握了足够选票以控制地方政治及行政资源。19世纪美国都市的快速成长，造成市政的重大难题，市政府经常无法顺利组成、且无法有效提供服务。行动积极的政治人物，对於新进市民多会给予一些好处以交换选票取得支持，例如工作机会或住宅的优惠补助。政治机器通常都只把市政府重新改造成独厚自己选民的形态，并且造成施政品质不佳（因为工作机会常被当作政治酬庸）、贪渎横行（因为合约和专卖权常被当作政治回报）、种族及族群仇恨恶化（因为政治机器经常不能反映多样化意见）。不过，改革措施、郊区发展及人口流动造成的邻里联带关系淡化，都会导致政治机器控制力削弱。美国史上着名的政治机器有：纽约的特维德（William Marcy Tweed）、波士顿的柯利（James Michael Curley）、堪萨斯市的彭德加斯（Thomas Pendergast）、芝加哥的戴雷（Richard Daley）。亦请参阅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.