Why can’t things get done? Why can’t something be negotiated?
This is where I think we are in politics. We ask the questions but how are those who represent us really getting punished for NOT negotiating? I would say, right now, given that people are naturally risk averse, our representatives perceive higher risks to doing deals and compromising than not.
We can all throw out multiple reasons why this is so but the main point is “this is where we are right now”.
So until the incentive structure truly changes we are likely to get more theater -i.e. pretend negotiations – than true results.