It is Because of You

"[Both parties] are more interested in fighting each other than in solving problems."

"Ordinary Americans care about making the political system work well."

These two statements, according to a Pew Research survey, are ones that most Americans agree with. The first feels very negative, almost hopeless. The second is more positive: there is a real sense that there are possibilities to make our politics work for us. Both statements are true. And understanding why they coexist is where the real conversation begins.

Politicians Who Prefer the Problem to the Solution

When it comes to parties being more interested in fighting each other instead of solving problems, look at what has happened with immigration legislation.

Question: What do Obama and Trump have in common when it comes to immigration?

Answer: They both killed immigration legislation so they could have a campaign issue in the next presidential election.

Obama killed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 by supporting four "poison pill" amendments that he knew would make it unpalatable to a large portion of the Senate. The last of those, an amendment to lower the annual visa quota for guest workers from 400,000 to 200,000, passed by one vote, putting an end to any chance of the bill getting enough Republican support.

On 11 May 2023, the House passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023 with a vote of 219 to 213. This bill was written by Republicans and passed solely on Republican votes. It was sent to the Senate, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and cosponsored by Senator Thom Tillis. After Republicans pushed Democrats to bring it up for a vote, the bill received support from the Biden administration and appeared likely to become law. Then, on 4 February 2024, House Speaker Mike Johnson came out against the same bill his caucus had passed less than a year earlier. This was a direct result of the Trump campaign wanting immigration as a campaign issue in the upcoming election.

The Pattern Is Clear

Obama, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, both put their own political agendas ahead of what was best for the country. Neither one cared how making progress on immigration would help those they were hoping to lead. They saw improvements as a loss of leverage in the next election cycle.

It seems obvious that the reason our political system does not work is because politicians care about having campaign issues, not about solving problems.

So Why Is This Your Responsibility?

How can we say that the reason our political system does not work is because of the public? For one very simple reason: voters keep electing people without making them pledge to support election reforms in their state. Until that changes, the incentives that produce this behaviour remain firmly in place.

This is not about blaming individuals. It is about recognising that the structure of our elections shapes who runs, who wins, and who governs. Change the structure, and the behaviour follows. Learning from failed third-party attempts is part of understanding how to make that structural change actually stick.