In addition, the clear example of cooperation between two two branches of government (executive and legislative) connects well to what we learned earlier in the year. Specifically, the article hones in on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's fluctuating relationship with President Barack Obama. Though both Democrats, both have been at odds with each other in the past. However, when facing shutdown and default, their union held the Democratic base together long enough to break the Republican front.
However, the next party that may break is the Democratic party itself. This article points to division within the party on issues related to the health care law and spying. While some candidates can afford to upset some influential party members, others cannot.
When do you think Congressmen should defect from party-endorsed policy? Although partisan politics has received much blame for the lack of progress in Congress, what merit do you think parties have in this day and age in government?
Random note for those who get it: a local news angle will come... at some point
2 comments:
Very interesting articles, Brandon.
I will say that I think that Congressmen, and just voters in general, should take more of an approach to politics of deciding on issues independently of a party.
I think too often people accept every aspect of their chosen party's platform, when, in reality, if one claims to agree with a particular party on every issue,it's probably because they don't really know about all those issues.
Again, realistically we have parties because this is the way things get done in a country—especially one as large as the U.S. I think much like Thoreau, many informed people ideally wish politics were different and more individualized. One way that we naturally combat some of this though is through the fluidity of the parties. Much like we discussed in these last two units, parties shift to fit the largest number of people... to try and gain a majority. In this way parties are not always locked into one viewpoint or another.
Parties still have their merit. Now, ironically, partisan politics does not appear to be doing the country any good, but in a logical sense it is essentially impossible to function in a different way at this point in time.
I believe that the role of parties in the government have become de facto and what people expect. Rather than looking at different stances and separate issues, people have come to expect that the Democrats believe in the liberal side, and Republicans do not. This role has caused many to see parties in extreme lights and identify more with an "independent" party. Although political parties have now become labels for many, it also provides entertainment much at the expense of the congressmen and house members who are supposed to represent us.
I think that many have disconnected from identifying with a political party in the house, and more have identified with the majority of his or her peers. Like Kira said, parties still have their merit, but instead of having specific respectful opinions, it has just been a battle between "conservative" and "liberal."
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