So one of the constant refrains you often hear is why can't the two major political parties in our coutnry, the Democrats and the Republicans, "just get along?" Why can't they focus on ending the stupid games and bitter partisanship and just focusing on coming up with real solutions to our problems? This partisanship is especially emphasized right now, where the U.S. government is on the verge of partially shutting down if the two parties don't reach a deal by midnight.
However, this cry for "bipartisanship" always bugs me, because I don't see how people expect it could be done. "Bipartisanship" means one side giving up its views to satisfy the other. True bipartisanship is rare and difficult because we have two separate parties with some major disagreements in how to solve problems.
For example:
How Do We Improve the Quality of Our Public Schools and the Educational System As a Whole?
Republicans: Less government. Get rid of the National Education Association (NEA). School vouchers. Keep it limited to the states and get the federal government out of it entirely as the quality of public education has only gotten worse with more government involvement (such as the creation of the NEA).
Democrats: More government. Expand the NEA as "obviously" local control of the schools is inadequate and the reason the quality of public schooling has been falling. And school vouchers are one of the worst ideas ever thought of for public schools.
How Do We Fix Healthcare?
Republicans: Less government of course. Free-market solutions. Healthcare is 1/6 of our economy. The Democrats want to put it under government control so that the government then controls 1/6 of our economy. And economic freedom is crucial to political freedom and overall freedom. Healthcare should not be run or controlled by the government!
Democrats: More government of course. In fact, full-on single-payer, government-run healthcare (for the really far Left). Healthcare should not be run by the private-sector!
How Do We Fix the Economy?
Republicans: Simplify our overly complex tax code, then use the additional revenue from closing loopholes to cut taxes if possible. Also, the economy is mostly autonomous, it will recover on its own. Government doesn't "manage" the economy. And Keynesian fiscal stimulus via government spending doesn't work. Maintain healthy free and global trade as this is a key to job creation.
Democrats: Massive stimulus spending is needed. Those Republicans saying it doesn't work are wrong. Invest in alternative energy, education, infrastructure, etc...and crack down on things like NAFTA. Free trade has destroyed lots of American jobs!
How Do We Fix the Financial System So A Repeat of 2008 Doesn't Occur?
Republicans: Less regulation. Too much regulation will hamstring the financial system and destroy innovation. The financial system already is among the most regulated industries there are.
Democrats: Obviously more regulation. Too little regulation is what led to this crisis in the first place!
...and on and on and on...
So how could we citizens possibly expect true bipartisanship to come about? I do not think it can, and such differences in policy are what thus create the bitter partisanship we see today. Seriously, how could you create "bipartisan" healthcare bill, for example, when both parties fundamentally disagree with the other one over the solution? And then extend this same problem to other areas of policy.
I think the call for bipartisanship tends to come from those average citizens who don't pay too much attention to policy or politics and just want the politicians to govern the country efficiently. Because of this, I don't think they realize how true bipartisanship is a very rare thing and virtually impossible thing to create.
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