The House Exodus is in session as the House was out of session as three dozen members have announced their intention not to run for reelection; the unrestrained chaos of the last few months have, in the words of Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, “politics just no longer made [the work] worth it.” The polarized nature of the country reflects itself on the House of Representatives as even those in politics are tired of the drama and unproductivity- the country is worse off for it as the body will lose a combined 381 years of experience.
Chaos
Last month’s speaker contest and the election of Mike Johnson ended with the ascension of Mike Johnson as the group controlling the House – the Freedom Caucus- obtained a victory for their cause- now their victory is being called into question. The month-long struggle after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy grinded the country to a halt as the Republican infighting stalled bills on the legislative docket, and all because he chose to support a bill to fund the county; Mike Johnson has in the eye of Freedom Caucus Republicans has just committed a grave mistake. Speaker Johnson decided, like McCarthy, to enlist the help of Democrats to pass a spending bill and, in the words of House Freedom Chip Roy, “Strike one, strike two,” and in this cycle, it seems evident that Johnson isn’t safe from the wrath of the Freedom Caucus.
Spending bills that were previously bipartisan affairs have turned into a complete state of war within the House of Representatives: if something as simple as keeping the government functioning is in question, how can one expect cooperation on the fundamental issues? It can’t be, and these three dozen congressmen see it that way. As one remarked, “We have lost our way” to comment upon the state of the Republican Party and the House body. We have lost our way.
The Great Compromisers
As Congress faces turmoil over the unfolding drama that has seeped into political discourse due to extremist factions, looking back at the history of our great compromisers would be a beneficial reflection for our nation.
Early in our country’s history, men like Henry Clay emerged to balance the turbulent sectional divide and brokered the Missouri Compromise, which kept the nation together for 30 years. The Compromise ensured the young fledging nation would stave off the onslaught of civil war and eventually come out alive.
Later on, during the turbulent Watergate scandal, Howard Baker crossed party lines in questioning the Nixon Administration during his actions in the Watergate debacle. Furthermore, his courage in defying party lines in wanting to give back the Panama Canal to Panama symbolizes the maverick behavior he embraced to broker a compromise between political divides.
Despite their noticeable political differences in the 80s, Tip O’Neill worked with the Reagan administration to deliver reform like the 1981 Tax Bill and the most recent comprehensive immigration bill in 1986. O’Neill went as far as to tell President Reagan that he and his new administration would “cooperate in every way.”
The Future
Continuing on the same trek we are on now will be disastrous for our country; if the thought of politics turns off our Representatives, then citizens can’t be expected not to be disillusioned with politics. With confidence in the government at record lows, the course isn’t to continue this senseless drama but to do what representatives should do: govern. Govern in a way that finds a bridge between common ground that can be found and debate civilly when compromise can’t be found. Compromise is the only way our country has and will move forward. It would do the country well to reflect upon the crowning achievements of our great compromisers- Henry Clay, Howard Baker, Tip O’Neil- and, with that reflection, gain the courage to move forward stronger.
The future is not to abandon principle like some suggest a compromise to mean, but to embrace civil debate. Without principle a society cannot stand, and without compromise it cannot function. Compromise and principle are not mutually exclusive. Each one builds upon the other. Difference keeps America unique, and compromise keeps America alive; extremist ideological extremes have always fallen before compromise, and if America is to survive, compromise must survive, and extremism must die.
Leave a Reply