Blog 7

Why Bipartisan Government is Getting Us Nowhere

Although initially intended as a means of facilitating legislature, the bipartisan model of the American government is detrimental to modern politics. The current system is polarizing; it requires everyone to fit their political views into a box of Republican or Democratic party choice. This system is flawed because most of the fundamental opinions which classify these parties are in severe contrast. Unlike the yin and the yang from Chinese philosophy, these parties do not cooperate efficiently and are always at odds over who can immediately assume majority control over the legislative and executive branches of the Government. This attempt, however, repeatedly proves futile. 

Regardless of which party gains control at any one moment, the other party has enough power without a majority vote to prevent any significant change from happening. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), for example, was a push toward substantial improvement to the unsustainable healthcare model currently in place. Initiated by the Democratic party under President Obama, much of the original intent of the ACA was eventually lost due to the constant compromises legislators had to make for the policy to gain enough support to pass. Many legislators agree that the state of healthcare is a problem that must be solved, but opinions on how to change vary so drastically that actual change is not possible. Ultimately, the ACA passed, but fundamental aspects like the financial penalty for not obtaining healthcare were soon repealed under the current administration only a few years after initially instituted. 

Similarly, the current immigration policy is an issue without a solution upon which the American government can agree. While some, like President Trump, believe the solution is a wall, others believe this attempted improvement only worsens an already sensitive problem. Because enough of the government agrees with the President on this issue, there has been progress in building a border wall between Mexico and America. However, this will likely be insignificant. Even if President Trump were able to stay in office for a second term, his vision could not be achieved within that time. After his term expires, a new wave of legislators will enter, and many are likely to have different views on this change to American immigration policy. 

Americans pride themselves on general concepts of their country as the best in the world. Unfortunately, America has become so divided that many problems exist, and the current government is incapable of providing solutions. For genuine improvement to occur, either the bipartisan model must be altered, or politicians will have to become more open and responsive to the ideals of the opposing side. Neither of these changes appears to happen in the near future, and, meanwhile, Americans will have to settle for a government that spends its time constantly deliberating and never coming to solutions.