Government Gridlock and Good Ideas

Some people deride 'government gridlock', where both parties appear too set in their ways, too wedded to their ideas, and too deaf to the other party's leaders to accomplish anything.

Government is working exactly as it's supposed to... For example: Conservative representatives were 'hired' (elected) to advance those philosophies and ideals by their constituents, not to help advance philosophies and ideals which are anathema to them. Likewise liberals. So while some people may deride the "gridlock" I posit that it's working perfectly.

When Republicans act like Democrats -- spending too much, taxing too much -- they lose elections, because those are NOT the principles which they were elected to advance. Their constituents become disillusioned and vote them out the next election cycle.

While most may not feel the system is perfect, the system is designed to allow the citizens' interests to be represented. Deals are made between the parties when there is proximate congruency between their governing philosophies. Every politician tries to balance the needs and wishes of their constituents and the need to compromise their ideals with the opposition party... that's called "politics" and it's certainly not limited to Conservatives or Liberals exclusively.

There's no 'super majority' requirement; seems to me that we had TARP, a stimulus bill, a jobs bill, and other legislation passed in the last year-plus, in both houses of Congress and with some level of participation from both parties. It's utterly unfair to expect that a representative should vote in favor of a piece of legislation with which they do not agree. That's ridiculous, and though today we see that the Republicans are standing firm against something that, let's face it, two-thirds of the country doesn't want passed, in the not-so-distant past the shoe was on the other foot. In typical Liberal fashion, when they vote against something or protest something, it's fine and good and just; when they propose something with which their opposition disagrees, that opposition is belittled, tarred, feathered and emasculated.

Political opponents CAN have excellent ideas, and sometimes do; but if both parties always thought that the other side's ideas were good, we'd have only ONE party -- because they'd essentially be the same. And no matter your particular leaning, you must admit that would not be good for the country.

As a final thought: Republicans win elections only when they run as conservatives, regardless of what you see and hear in the media about "moderate Republicans". And Democrats can only win elections when they run as centrists or moderates, suppressing their liberal, statist, leftist leanings and inclinations.

Obama ran as a moderate. Remember?