Sometimes I fear that the blogosphere can become an echo chamber for those of us who rely on it too heavily to get a feel for the mood of the country. A narrative develops that since we're "yelling louder," any sign that politicians are not responding to our demands can be ascribed to the fact that they're bought and paid for.
While I generally agree that there is truth to this narrative, the fact is that politicians are receiving mixed messages from the electorate. Before we impugn their motives, perhaps we should think a bit about what they're hearing.
Just today, CNN produced the results of a poll they've done about who Americans hold responsible for gridlock in DC. I believe this poll likely reflects what many politicians in Washington are hearing.
Two-thirds of Americans think that the Republicans in Congress are not doing enough to cooperate with President Barack Obama, according to a new national poll. But a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, released Wednesday morning, also indicates the public says that the Democrats should be the ones to take the first step toward bipartisan cooperation and they want the Democrats to give up more than the GOP to reach consensus<...>
Even though more people think the Republicans rather than the White House are not doing enough to reach bipartisan consensus, according to the survey, 54 percent believe the Democratic party should take the first step toward developing bipartisan solutions to the country's problems. Forty-two percent say the GOP should take that first step<...>
"Americans feel the ball is in the Democrats' court," adds Holland. "They may not be held responsible for the problem, but since they are in charge of the government, Americans appear to think they are responsible for the solution."
Emphasis mine
I'm not sure I can parse all of what's behind a poll like this...that the American people hold Republicans accountable for obstruction and yet want the Democrats to make the first move towards compromise. It doesn't make sense to me, except perhaps in the context of the sentence I bolded...the ball is in our court. I think that may have as much to do with a recognition that Democrats are acting like the adults in the room rather than a statement about our current majorities. But I could be wrong about that.
Whatever the thinking is behind all of this though, its the message that is getting through to many of our elected officials. And it re-affirms for me that if we want to influence them to stand and fight for more progressive policies, we're going to first need to convince more of our friends/neighbors/family/coworkers to join us in that fight. Like it or not, the majority of people in this country are asking for more bipartisanship and compromise from the Democrats. And too many politicians are getting that message. Until we change that, we're not likely to be heard. That's just how democracy works.