Gridlock in the senate
This article talks about how the senate became so contentious and driven by partisan loyalty. It states that in previous decades, the senate was the place where bills managed to get passed and receive votes while the house was where gridlock occurred. Now both have gridlock. The article goes on to say that the method used by senators to block each others' proposals is by filibustering them and now Democrats want to try and limit this tactic. I think that the senate faces enough pressure at this point from the public and the potential consequences of gridlock now that they will have to start compromising to keep their jobs and more importantly to help move the country forward.
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I think this gridlock can work to help better the country. Think about it, if both sides don't have enough for a majority vote, they have to work together. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we want our country to make progress and move forward. Because of this gridlock, we can! Now, both parties will need to compromise and work together to get other people from the opposite parties to go along with what one party may want. Most likely things will be added that both parties will want, but I think it is beneficial in the end.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to Aubrey's comment, I can't help but disagree. We've had this kind of gridlock for two years and we haven't gotten ANYWHERE. I don't see how gridlock is helpful in any sense.
ReplyDeleteBut with regards to the "nuclear option", there is such animosity between the two parties currently that enacting anything like Mr. Ried is suggesting seems like it would just make things 10x worse. It would diminish the republicans influence in the senate, but republicans all across the board would immediately end any talks with democrats after a move like that.
I too think that gridlock is nothing but harmful to the government. Many politicians focus on blocking their opponents' policies instead of working on compromises. It has gotten to the point where all of these politicians show up to work and argue, only to get nothing done and repeat it the next day. Something is going to have to change since talks about hitting the fiscal cliff continue to arise and if nothing gets done, everyone will pay for the consequences. The whole system of voting based on who wants the policy to be passed is ridiculous, but there doesn't seem to be a solution in the near-future.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what Nora and Dave had to say. The attitude of a lot of politicians will not change and I we will definitely just continue to see nothing getting done, because neither party will budge. The attitude of our politicians to me right now is very annoying. I want to see progress regardless of which way it is going, I would just like to see something done.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Nora and Dan. While yes, some gridlock is definitely in the best interest for the public by helping to keep policy more moderate, gridlock as severe as we have seen over these past few years hasn't gotten the country anywhere. I really don't know why it is so hard for them to compromise, it's a skill that you are taught to do in preschool. I understand that each party has their own views and doesn't want to change them, but they don't have to. They need to put aside these petty attitudes towards the other party and work to get things done.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that gridlock is nothing but bad. If gridlock caused compromises, we would have seen them already, and we haven’t. Sure, it keeps a majority from happening, but wouldn’t it be better if the supporters of the majority were happy instead of no one being happy? It is obvious that there needs to be more compromising, but it is more complicated than most people think. These officials were elected their positions because the people, whom they represent, are in agreement with the policies and ideas of those officials. Whenever a politician does compromise, usually they are chastised by the party by not agreeing with the party's platform. Officials also get ridiculed for changing their minds. I know that compromising and changing your mind are different, but they are also similar and are often mistaken for one another. So although it would be great if everyone agreed on everything, we in America are allowed to have and express different opinions and that is what makes this country great.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think the best bills are passed when there is some degree of gridlock, the amount we have today is just ridiculous. I do not even think it has anything to do with the proposals anymore, just the animosity between the two parties. I wish I could remember when the government actually worked together and was able to pass partisan bills, but now everyone just pints fingers and says, "you're wrong." I only feel more resentment towards the house for this as they were originally the gridlocked part of congress. Republicans and Democrats both need to find bills they can agree on. I do not want to hear anymore "we're trying to reach across the aisle." No, you make an acceptable bill and get it through because that's your job, not to sit and argue and not pass any laws for 2-4 years and then try to use it as a edge in the presidential race. It sickens me how most of the people in these positions can't agree on how to accomplish wehat seems like anything.
ReplyDeleteThere is no easy answer to this. We've spent the last few weeks learning about the importance of minority rights, yet we have an example,right in front of us, of an obstructionist minority hurting our country. While I agree with Nora that there is a risk of Reid's proposal making everything a lot worse, the filibuster is an archaic footnote that is being wrongly exploited. It must be removed or changed somehow or our government will cease to function.
ReplyDeleteI too have to agree with Dave, Nora, and Lauren. I do not agree with Aubrey's argument defending the positive aspects of gridlock. The main reason this country has achieved so little during President Obama's first term was partially due to the gridlock between Democrats and Republicans in both the Senate and the House. I do not care what it takes to break this on going gridlock among Political elites, I just want to see progress.
ReplyDeleteI agree that gridlock is not the best way to make progress. Jay makes an excellent point about why we have made such little progress because of gridlock. Of course everyone wants to see more progress be made during President Obama's second term, but I don't know how progress can be made if the Republicans and Democrats of the Senate and the House continue with gridlock.
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