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Hi! Former Congressional staffer here. Ten years in DC working on the Hill. There is no more compromise. Period. From any party, from any politician. Every sing

Hi! Former Congressional staffer here. Ten years in DC working on the Hill. There is no more compromise. Period. From any party, from any politician. Every single day is spent doing whatever is necessary to disagree, disparage, obstruct, and humiliate the other party. Compromise be damned: It's all about power, staying in power, and forcing the other part out of power. This is why I left. The two parties have personally and vindictively attacked one another for so long that nothing gets done. The next 2 years will be spent with Republicans ramming their agenda down the throats of Democrats, precisely the way Democrats did it in 2007-2009. Then, it was payback time. Now it's payback fro the Republicans. There is no more compromise in Congress, this is why it's so dysfunctional, and why nothing gets done. It does not appear to be changing any time soon, no matter the party in power.

leesalminen 10y ago
This is the thing that people should actually be "scared" of.
ethbro 10y ago
> It does not appear to be changing any time soon, no matter the party in power. Curious, would you agree or disagree with the statement that a majority of this is driven by the primary process, fundraising requirements, and the political media industry? If so, those seem like tractable problems we can absolutely work on.
- Overtonwindow 10y ago
  To a certain extent. House elections being every 2 years is a migraine that never ends. House members of both parties fundraise like crazy, and they're constantly dialing for dollars. This means they're constantly a target by the opposing party. Certainly if House members did not have to spend so much time watching their backs, dialing for dollars, and campaigning, it might help. Curiously the Senate has something of a more collegiate body, even by those who despise one another, they tend to be more polite and respectful behind the scenes. I think this is because they know they have six years to drag things out, fundraise, and build relationships.
  - unclenoriega 10y ago
    Do you think some kind of public financing scheme could help? How much would it have to be to have an effect? I've heard it suggested that an Australia-style "everyone must go to the polls" system might ameliorate some of these issues by removing the need for GOTV campaigns and requiring candidates to persuade the middle since everyone will be showing up to vote. Any thoughts on this from the inside?

leesalminen 10y ago

This is the thing that people should actually be "scared" of.

ethbro 10y ago

> It does not appear to be changing any time soon, no matter the party in power. Curious, would you agree or disagree with the statement that a majority of this is driven by the primary process, fundraising requirements, and the political media industry? If so, those seem like tractable problems we can absolutely work on.

Overtonwindow 10y ago
To a certain extent. House elections being every 2 years is a migraine that never ends. House members of both parties fundraise like crazy, and they're constantly dialing for dollars. This means they're constantly a target by the opposing party. Certainly if House members did not have to spend so much time watching their backs, dialing for dollars, and campaigning, it might help. Curiously the Senate has something of a more collegiate body, even by those who despise one another, they tend to be more polite and respectful behind the scenes. I think this is because they know they have six years to drag things out, fundraise, and build relationships.
- unclenoriega 10y ago
  Do you think some kind of public financing scheme could help? How much would it have to be to have an effect? I've heard it suggested that an Australia-style "everyone must go to the polls" system might ameliorate some of these issues by removing the need for GOTV campaigns and requiring candidates to persuade the middle since everyone will be showing up to vote. Any thoughts on this from the inside?