Political Party Compromise In Congress

The political party compromise in Congress is considered part of the democratic process but often takes suggested legislation and laws, which are needed and helpful for the public, and makes the original legislation or law impotent or useless. The merits of the original legislation or law is watered down by the creation, presentation, and ratification process due to amendments or additions based on party lines. A non-compromising ratification process can only be accomplished if the creation, presentation and voting processes are changed making Congressional party line votes and alliances impossible. There should be no compromise in Congress and the only consideration when voting on these far reaching legislative actions is what is best for
Even though Gutmann and Thompson state compromise is needed in the democratic process their own words say the opposite. Their statements, “also made concessions that flew in the face of their most principled reasons”, and “---often distorting them in the process” show how the system of compromise is flawed. If the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and Affordable Care Act of 2010 had merit in themselves and were good for the citizens why are concessions and distortions needed and considered part of the democratic
In Steven L. Taylor’s report Americans Want Their Leaders to Stand and Fight he states, “Nearly half of America—including nearly two thirds of Republicans and 53 percent of independents—admires political leaders who refuse to compromise” and, “The survey found 49 percent of all respondents admire political leaders who stick to their positions without compromising.” His report goes on to state how no compromise in a democracy is impossible due to all interests and needs being impossible to fill. Taylor’s report clearly states a lack of any compromise will maintain the status quo and nothing would be accomplished. I agree with Taylor’s report that compromise is sometimes needed or the status que will be what we are left with. But, this is only because of the current process of creating, presenting, and voting Congress is currently using. If Congress is one political party heavy the only way anything can be accomplished in the current system is through compromising. This is not what the voters want based on what was stated by the voters in Taylor’s report. The voters are clearly looking for their representatives to stand up for them and their needs with little to no compromise. The issue with not compromising in today’s system is nothing will occur, so what needs to change is the process so compromising everything is not needed to accomplish