中新网评:美国众议长选举“连续剧”暴露美式民主痼疾******
中新网北京1月9日电(蒋鲤)在15轮投票表决后,美国众议院议长选举这场“连续剧”终于落下帷幕,众议院共和党领袖凯文·麦卡锡最终成功当选第55任美国众议院议长。这是美国国会过去164年来耗时最久的一次议长选举记录,将美国“对抗式民主”的弊端暴露无遗。
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.
高端受捧中低端遇冷 长期增长是业内共识******
本报记者 王 鹤 见习记者 冯雨瑶
2023年春节渐行渐近,白酒也将迎来传统销售旺季。近日,《证券日报》记者在北京地区相关终端走访了解到,高端白酒需求坚挺,在市场上依旧保持一定热度;而与之形成鲜明对比的,是多数中低端酒销售略显冷清,陷入“无人问津”的窘境。
“我们店销售比较好的大多是茅台、五粮液、汾酒这些品牌。尤其是临近春节,选择这几款的消费者居多。”北京市东城区一家烟酒店工作人员告诉《证券日报》记者,近日到店买酒的客流明显增多。“但整体来看,多数中低端白酒的销售情况不太乐观。”
2022年,受疫情等多重因素影响,白酒市场出现动销滞缓、价格倒挂等情况,渠道端难掩“焦虑”。进入年末收尾阶段,眼下白酒市场的终端销售情况如何?又将迎来怎样的春节行情?
高端白酒热度不减
中低端产品销售较为冷清
《证券日报》记者近日走访北京地区多家大型商超、烟酒店及酒水直营连锁店发现,高端酒始终保持着一定的流通热度。
在位于朝阳区合生汇的华润万家超市,记者注意到,白酒专区的货架上,摆放在C位的多是定位中高端的产品,包括各年份的53度茅台酒、五粮液、洋河、山西汾酒等,定价多在千元以上。而在货架边缘位置,摆放的则是价位在500元至1000元区间的产品。
该专区销售人员告诉《证券日报》记者,“春节是白酒的销售旺季,近期已有不少消费者前来问价、看货。目前还未收到有关春节的销售活动通知,但最近两天会在超市中心位置摆架推出相关白酒展品。”据其透露,高端白酒全年价格波动不大,只有在类似春节、中秋这样的传统节假日,部分产品才会有活动。
记者此后在东城区多家烟酒店了解到,高端白酒销售仍保持一定热度。其中,对于53度飞天茅台酒在春节期间的销售表现,市场“看涨”氛围浓厚。
“现在53度飞天茅台酒的价格为2800元/瓶,比较划算。不过,临近春节可能会涨一点,预计会涨到3100元/瓶。”某烟酒店销售人员对《证券日报》记者表示。
而相比高端白酒相对紧俏的市场行情,记者在走访中发现,多数中低端白酒的销售较为冷清。
“今年整体销售情况不太好。”一家烟酒店工作人员略显无奈地向记者表示。在该店内,记者注意到,不少定价500元以下的酒品都打出了活动价,门口处还写有“部分酒品清仓甩卖”的字样。
此外,在西直门某商场的一家地下商超内,记者发现,标有“买一赠一”、“买A赠B”、“满减返40元”等活动的标签在白酒货架上随处可见。
增长是长期性趋势
白酒行业动销将逐渐修复
疫情冲击下,积压在渠道端的库存压力浮出水面。据《2022年度酒商现状及发展报告》显示,今年上半年约39.7%的酒商库存在5个月以上,33.6%的酒商库存在3个月至5个月,库存周期明显拉长。同时,从酒企半年报来看,部分二线酒企面临的库存压力进一步加大。
面对库存压力,一些经销商和运营商开始低价抛货、回笼资金。但有业内人士认为,渠道的库存需要很长一段时间来消化,名酒大单品将被优先消化,对一些中小品牌而言,库存消化并没有那么容易,其大多面临资金压力、生存压力,不少企业可能会扛不住压力而离场。
业界认为,当下的酒业正处于“黎明前的黑暗”。
中国酒业协会理事长宋书玉日前表示,最近三年来,在疫情形势、经济走势、消费趋势叠加影响下,在产业自身矛盾释放背景下,酒业正在经历变革与调整。但中国酒业稳中有进的趋势没有改变,仍然延续结构性繁荣的长周期,整体效益持续提升,具有极强产业韧性和强大的发展活力。当前随着疫情防控措施优化,扩大内需,消费为首,处于长周期的酒业即将迎来新一轮战略机遇。
五粮液集团(股份)公司党委书记、董事长曾从钦也对白酒产业作出最新判断:白酒产业结构性繁荣正在加快演进,作为充分市场化的长周期产业,增长是长期性趋势。
中信建投研报指出,随着信心和需求的先后修复,预计2023年白酒行业动销将逐渐修复,呈现前低后高走势,具有系统化运营能力优势的白酒企业将继续收获市场份额。
前海开源基金首席经济学家杨德龙对《证券日报》记者表示,“受疫情影响,白酒消费受到比较大的压制,随着疫情防控措施优化,白酒等消费将逐步回升,白酒的盈利能力和品牌价值将更为凸显。”
不过,也有业内人士认为,展望2023年酒业发展,“开门红”可能没有想象中的顺利,但按照大的周期来看,明年下半年中国酒业将回复正常的增长轨道。(证券日报)
(文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎)