Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

I delve into politics or politicians and submit an ugly theory about polarization in American politics.

American politics seem to be polarized more than in the last few generations. There are plenty of explanations and denials (see a recent New York Times story as an example). One explanation that makes a lot of sense to me is (get ready for this):

America’s elected representatives have become just plain lazy.

Consider the theory of how America’s elected representatives should behave:

1. They run for elected office on principles, not specifics.
2. Once in office, they use their principles to guide their decisions.
3. They engage in compromise necessary to govern, i.e.,  budgets are on time, appointees are approved or not quickly, and the other little things that comprise governing.

Now for the laziness. Item (1) says that you don’t stand up in the campaign and proclaim, “I will never approve anything that so-and-so in the White House proposes.” If elected, that person is bound to vote “no” on everything. The nation grinds to a halt. It is much more difficult to explain principles to voters expecting them to understand what you say and see the good judgement in that.

Item (2) requires thinking, contemplation, and explanation. They have to return to their home and explain to their voters why they voted for this and against that. Those explanations take thought and time and enduring criticism. People may never understand your whys and wherefores. That, again, requires hard work.

Item (3) is perhaps the most difficult. The US Constitution is full of compromises. Everyone, well when I was in high school, studied these great compromises. No one got everything they wanted. Everyone settled for something less. That was hard work. Elected representatives today don’t want to do this work. Consider approving judges. There are 11 court openings. The party that has 51% of the Senate picks six judges while the other party picks five. Everyone is disappointed. Everyone gets something, but not everything. The vacancies are filled quickly and the nation moves forward.  The same happens with the budget. The party in power with 51% of the Congressional seats writes 51% of the budget. The others write the other parts. The budget is on time, we move forward. Everyone is disappointed, but the nation functions.

That is all hard work. What happened to that? Where did the adults disappear to?