Congress's Petty Infighting - Destroying Government Efficacy

It's no secret that the United States Congress has not been popular lately. Unfortunately, that unpopularity has gone to some stellar lows lately. One poll shows that Congress is less popular than cockroaches, Genghis Khan, and the world famous band Nickelback.

 

Although to be fair, it's hard not to like a man who rocks dressed like this.

Why is Congress so unpopular lately? It's completely ineffectual. All that Congress does lately is delay making important decisions, such as how to address major revenue issues, taxation, and the infamous debt ceiling, in order to score political points with pundits.

After all, getting favorable comments from Fox News is guaranteed to increase your likelihood of publishing a best selling memoir after your political career is over.

One lovely example of this is introducing bills that have a part that most people agree with, such as keeping interest rates on student loans from doubling and then including an addendum that the other party cannot vote for, such as removing part of the healthcare reform law or raising taxes on businesses. After the law does not pass, the Democratic or Republican party can go on a media blitz of how the other party does not support education and wants to screw students over. This kind of behavior does not encourage members of the parties to work together to get legislation that actually passes through Congress. All it does is take up gratuitous amounts of Congress's time between recesses on bills that are guaranteed to never become laws.

Additionally, the parties frequently insult each other in the press. For instance, a forthcoming Republican strategy retreat was greeted by the Democratic Party with  a long mocking list of topics to focus on, such as how to speak to women and minorities and a need to take a course in science 101. Although political humor can be amusing, it should be saved for venues like the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It should not be employed by Democrats or Republicans to burn any chance of a positive relationship with the other party.

 Especially since politicians are generally incapable of being as amusing as comedians.

How can this problem be fixed?

For starters, reducing the influence of the media blitz from networks like Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC would help. All of these networks produce partisan coverage that only serves to divide the public and prevent politicians from coming to any sort of compromise. Cutting back on the number of fanatical guest pundits might also help these shows actually have an informed and reasoned debate instead of a holy war between conservatives and liberals.

Another helpful addition could be to reduce or eliminate the number of bills that are produced with additional unrelated legislation attached. The majority of large bills have multiple riders that are not at all necessary to the issue the main bill is meant to address. This makes it extremely difficult for Congress to act efficiently, as every important piece of legislation is joined by little additions that benefit a tiny portion of the country or that may not be a good idea at all. However, since the larger bill is important to pass, these small additions make it into law. Alternatively, these riders may make it impossible to pass the main bill because they are destructive and unacceptable to one party's values.

A typical bill in Congress. It may be useful but it also comes covered with ferocious bees. 


However, these solutions will only cover up the main issue-that Congress does not seem able to compromise anymore. I feel that a large part of this problem is because of Gerrymandering, the drawing of election district borders. Many Congressmen are set up so they reside in a liberal or conservative stronghold. This means that the only threat to their reelection hopes is if a more liberal or more conservative challenger arrives to provoke the extremes of the voting population against the representative. Although this is convenient to reduce the likelihood of losing elections, it also makes it so representatives are beholden to the extreme views of their party. Compromise is not viewed as acceptable by some conservative or liberal zealots, hence the inability of House Speaker John Boehner to get his party to fall in line with the national party's position on the recent fiscal cliff legislation.

What's needed is for someone to slay the Gerrymander. I don't feel that this is likely though, instead the United States will be stuck in muck and mire for generations to come.

Will a hero arise who can defeat the fearsome Gerrymander? Only time will tell.

Why Compromise is Impossible in Washington

Thanks to the political gridlock in Congress, the United States credit rating was downgraded by one of the credit ratings agencies for the first time in history. The most appalling part of this debacle is that it seems like a deal should have been made many months before the one finally passed on August 2nd. As I mentioned in a previous post, it would seem that the most obvious solution would have been to raise some revenues and also cut spending significantly. This solution doesn't give either party everything they want, but it is the only way to try and reduce the deficit without cutting spending, which does improve economic growth and protect vulnerable populations, to the point of crippling the federal government completely.

Instead of having this type of logical discussion and making a long-term solution, Congress chose to make ultimatums for weeks on end and eventually pass a half-assed plan that, if nothing else, did at least cut spending a little and raise the debt ceiling. It will also require both parties to have this same discussion in a couple years when the second round of deficit reduction occurs.


Delay is also known as success in politics.

This brings up the question, why does it seem like no one is willing to compromise at all in the federal government?

Requirements for a Compromise
Whenever people or groups disagree on what they want, a negotiation has to occur in order for a deal to occur. In order for a successful negotiation to take place, there has to be some overlap in goals, otherwise a compromise will not occur.

Let's use the example of Bob wanting to purchase a car from Adam.


Adam seems like a reasonable fellow to deal with.

Bob can afford to spend $5,000 for a car at this point. Adam's car is priced at $7,000, but he is willing to go as low as $4,500. As you can see, there is overlap in the price ranges here so a sale can theoretically take place.


A successful negotiation is possible, the car may be sold to Bob.

Now, if you change that same scenario but instead make Bob only willing to spend $4,000, look at how the picture changes.


No overlap here, a deal cannot be reached.

The problem is that the current Washington environment is the latter scenario. Both parties agree that spending cuts need to occur, to defense, social spending, and many other areas. Where the parties are split is on the issue of revenue increases. The Republican party, particularly the Tea Party faction, is completely unwilling to consider tax increases of any sort, even those caused simply by removing loopholes in the tax system. The problem is that so many Republicans have signed pledges with Grover Norquist's Americans For Tax Reform group stating that they will never ever vote to raise taxes in any way that they are left with no room to negotiate on the budget. If they choose to negotiate, they are harshly criticized by Norquist's group, which seems to have a great deal of power with the conservative base of the Republican party.

So, here's the image of the possible negotiation options for revenue increases right now:



It's enough to make you need a cigarette.