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The problem is that voters often disagree greatly, and the only positive way forward is a compromise, but strong partisan and ideological polarization makes tha
by woodandsteel 6y ago
The problem is that voters often disagree greatly, and the only positive way forward is a compromise, but strong partisan and ideological polarization makes that impossible.
- clairity 6y agobut that's more of a problem of leadership, courage, and ultimately fairness. parties are not designed to fix that problem, and we've let the system devolve into this mess so that politicians can concentrate power in the smallest agreeable number of entities (two).
- woodandsteel 6y agoThe problem is that when parties are highly polarized, politicians who want to be the sort of leaders you are talking about can't get into leadership positions and often are voted out at the primary election stage.
- TheOtherHobbes 6y agoThe problem is that both parties in the US are bought and paid for, and have no real interest in representing the interests of voters. So-called progressive issues and so-called conservative issues are just attention-seeking window displays designed to farm voter interest. Policy is controlled by the economic leverage of donors and lobbyists, not by voters, and is enacted to protect the economic interests of donors and lobbyists, not of voters.
- handol 6y agoCompromise isn't necessarily a positive way forward. Sometimes there is no way forward but to fight for power and the victors impose their will on the losers. Look at the compromise of alternating slave and free states to prevent a rupture in U.S. politics in the mid 1800s. It satisfied neither side, and no compromise possibly could have.