Why We Don't Get Results In Washington

Imagine yourself for a moment as the politician, and you're in Washington, D.C. and you have an opportunity to vote yes on a bipartisan compromise bill, a landmark piece of legislation like what you referred to, the things we used to do like civil rights and Medicare and welfare reform and interstate highways, you know, things that we accomplished previously. Well, now when you have a chance to solve one of today's problems, healthcare, immigration, fiscal debt deficit reduction. The questions that you as a politician ask yourself, maybe one you might ask, is this a good idea? Or you're gonna ask, is this the right policy for the country? Maybe, is this what the majority of my constituents want? But in fact, you don't ask yourself any of those questions. You ask yourself, Am I going to make it back through my next party primary if I vote for this? And if the answer to that single question is no, and on all the big issues it virtually always is for both sides, then the rational incentive to get re-elected dictates that you vote no. And the answers to all the important questions are rendered fundamentally irrelevant by the party primary system.