Quantity Over Quality: Americans Want Politicians Willing To Move

In the wake of any election, the eyes of the American people immediately look towards the next—particularly if the next election is on a presidential level. Elections affect how every American views the current political process, both the public and politicians alike. The public uses elections to figure out where they stand and show where they stand. Politicians see election results and use them to consider where their party is going, and what decisions would be in their best political interest, and in America’s best interest.

At this point in time, everyone is looking at the outcomes of the 2014 Midterm elections. Politicians see a country ready for change. But, the American people see something a little different.

According to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, more than three-quarters of Americans say the election won’t change the nation’s direction, and that they are unconfident elected leaders will work together to solve problems. In other words, American faith in the political process is at dismal levels. The American process is at dismal levels. The American people want to see a Congress willing to compromise, but are unsure whether that will happen. Consequently, Congress’s work to either compromise (or not compromise) can have an enormous impact on the 2016 elections in a number of ways. Congress can drably live up to America’s current predictions, or this new GOP controlled Congress can go beyond America’s expectations and serve the next two years with fluidity, efficiency, pragmatism and understanding. These two possibilities would lead to drastically different electoral results in 2014, as the high-quality performance of a Republican controlled Congress would affect the public’s view of a Republican presidential candidate. In turn, these two possibilities demonstrate the current status of modern American politics—and what is needed to be successful.

Right now, the American people expect the worst (or really, more of the worst). The recently overturned Congress was the least effective and productive in American history: they were almost literally a “do-nothing” Congress.  Even though the make up of Congress has changed (fairly substantially) since these midterm elections, the American people still expect more of the same (the same being nothing). In fact, 76% of respondents from a NBC poll say there will be “just some change” or “not that much change.”  However, the question is: how will a continued “do nothing” Congress affect the 2016 elections? The answer is: it depends. If Obama takes this election as a final wake-up call for changes in his presidency, and makes the changes Americans want, in conjunction with a potentially dysfunctional Republican-controlled Congress, it may have a positive affect in 2016 for Democrats. However, if the government is simply dysfunctional across the board, across all branches, it may not affect either party positively. A divided government unable to work together reflects badly on both sides.

However, the question remains, what if Congress surpasses current expectations and works towards compromise? According to a recent NBC poll, a majority of Americans (56%) want Congress to take the lead role in setting policy for the country. Too, this poll dictated that by a 63% to 30% margin, respondents want their elected candidates to make compromise instead of sticking to their campaign positions. Essentially, these polls indicate that a majority of the American people are willing to sacrifice strict ideologies, platforms, and campaign promises in the hope of a better, more efficient, more effective government. And, most importantly, these polls illustrate that the American people want Republicans to lead this change in Congress.

If the Republican controlled Congress can achieve this, passing a variety of initiatives, I think it would shed a positive light on the party for the upcoming 2016 presidential elections. However, this will certainly entail compromise. For, although Republicans do hold a steady majority, their majority is not overwhelming—they will still need Democratic votes. Additionally, according to an NBC poll, the top 5 respondent supported Congressional actions are fairly liberal: 82% of respondents support lowered student loans, 75% support increased spending on infrastructure, 65% support Congress raising the minimum wage, 60% support emergency aid to West Africa, and 59% support addressing climate change by limiting carbon emissions. It seems—strangely enough—that Americans elected a Republican Congress to achieve Democratic initiatives. This will be a true test of Republican devotion either to ideologies and platforms, or their desire to win the 2016 election. For, I think, as stated above, if a Republican-controlled Congress continues the legislative stalemate, it will not reflect well on the GOP in 2016. Dissimilarly, if they can do this—if they can understand, moderate, compromise—they hold a pretty good chance of gaining the control of the White House next term.

I think this idea—that moderation is the key—speaks to the secret of modern politics. People don’t necessarily want to see specific things happening, they just want to see things happening. We can see this through Bill Clinton’s presidency. Bill Clinton has had some of the highest presidential approval ratings in American history—fluctuating between 55-75% throughout his two terms. However, while running for President in 1992, Clinton made a conscious decision (with the help of the Democratic Leadership Council, or DLC) to break with the traditional liberal ends of the Democratic Party, and move toward a more centrist direction. This political mindset not only won him the 1992, and eventually 1996 elections, but also lent his presidency to one of the highest approval ratings in American history. For, with these centrist ideals, he made several and various decisions and bills—ranging from conservative trade agreements (NAFTA and GAAT) and liberal Welfare Reform. His moderation and neglect to adhere to a strict ideology made him well liked by the American people. With moderation, you can achieve a lot; and he achieved a lot.

Americans want to see that the government is working for them not against them—and by trying (and doing) a lot of things—a lot of different things—each person can feel touched by the government’s hand. I think in the modern era of politics, moderation is the absolute key. Moderation allows politicians to reach a wider variety of people, by achieving many and diverse things. Americans want quantity over quality (in this case, quality meaning quality adherence to political ideologies and platforms). In other words, they want a government that is willing to work for them. For, a politician who is willing to compromise is not weak or wishy-washy. A politician willing to compromise is a politician willing to do whatever it takes to move America forward. And right now, we're not going forward. 

So, perhaps both Republicans and Democrats should take some hints from the Clinton Administration—Republicans need to be moderate to show their competency in Congress, and Democrats need to be moderate to work with others in the wake of a GOP wave election. America wants politicians willing to move, both forward and around the political spectrum. In 2016, I think anyone has a bid— whoever can prove that they are devoted to moving America, will win. 

"'Like It Never Happened': Public Shrugs at Midterm Results, Poll Shows - NBC News." NBC News. Accessed November 21, 2014. 

Resnick, Eugene V. AP United States History. Hauppauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, 2012.