As human beings we are constantly balancing emotionally driven vs. rationally driven decision making. In today’s world, with the dominance of electronic media as an emotional cattle prod (radio and TV) and the ability of the internet to aggregate like minded thinkers, and reinforce that initial emotional reaction into settled understanding, rational arguments have vastly diminished power, and play a smaller and smaller role in politics. If rational discourse will not get you elected then where is its role in governing?
In short, we have two major political parties, both of whom are more effective at preventing the other from governing (and one who really isn’t interested in governing because at root, it opposes government) and the worst economic, political, and natural crises in my lifetime to contend with.
It is a no-win for everyone.
Having said that, the GOP is in a much worse position, and really has no rational discourse to embrace at all.
They have made the deficit a key point, but there is no way they can close it. They can’t cut the budget, because the things that they want to cut are politically popular. They can’t raise taxes, because anyone who does will be primaried by a TP member.
So forget about the deficit, what about social issues? They can’t win on social issues, because, generally speaking, demography is working against them, except in the South. Just look at the percentage that support gay marriage – it is in the high 40s now, and the trend among younger voters, and therefore overall, is clear.
They can’t win on immigration because they really could use moderate Latino voters, but again, anyone who compromises on this point will get a primary opponent. They can’t shut down the government, because people don’t like that, but… that is exactly what the Freshman class is going to do.
They want to win on jobs, but the only way to create jobs is to spend, and they don’t want to do that. They could argue that tax cuts create jobs, but how do you cut taxes and close the deficit?
They thought they could demonize public unions as a safe rally point. I honestly thought that would work, and have related tactical benefits. Boy was I wrong!. They may well have awakened a sleeping lion. If nothing else, Wisconsin is not a swing state for Obama anymore.
In short, they are painted into a corner. I predict Palin or Huckabee is the nominee and the next election is a disaster for them. Romney might be a little better on paper, but ultimately he is just a Republican Dukakis.
Ultimately I have to say that I am truly depressed by our current ability to govern. We have record unemployment in construction. It is the perfect time for large public works projects. But no. We need to increase spending in the short term, and cut it in the long term. But that isn’t going to happen. Indeed, the only major legislation that actually is predicted to reduce long term spending, the Health Care bill, the GOP wants to repeal. It does seem like the only way to govern is to accumulate a super majority, because anything else is insufficient. That isn't the way democracy is supposed to work.