The Temptation To Overreach

[Draggingtree]

Hoover Institute :

The Temptation To Overreach

by Morris P. Fiorina

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

 

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Today’s parties succumb to the temptation to overreach when in control of an institution. By overreach I mean simply that they attempt to govern in a manner that alienates the marginal members of their electoral majority. Overreach has two components: (1) adopting policies and positions favored by the party base that are more extreme than those favored by marginal supporters and (2) prioritizing issues that are important to the party bases but much less so to marginal supporters. The close party balance encourages a go-for-broke mentality when a party gains control of an institution. The resulting overreach leads to a loss of support in the next election, which contributes to unstable majorities.

 

ESSAY PREVIEW

 

The Temptation to Overreach

Today’s parties succumb to the temptation to overreach when in control of an institution. By overreach I mean simply that they attempt to govern in a manner that alienates the marginal members of their electoral majority. Overreach has two components: (1) adopting policies and positions favored by the party base that are more extreme than those favored by marginal supporters and (2) prioritizing issues that are important to the party bases but much less so to marginal supporters. The close party balance encourages

 

[Valin]

@Draggingtree

Essay 1 described the currently prevailing but historically unusual instability of controlling majorities in the elected branches of the national government: in recent decades, especially since 2004, party control of the presidency, Senate, and House of Representative has fluctuated to a degree not seen since the late nineteenth century. Even sweeping party victories like those that occurred in 2004 and 2008 have been followed by sharp reversals two years later. Having described party sorting and some of its consequences in the preceding chapters, this essay considers how party sorting underlies the insecure majorities that characterize national politics today

3. Can we say Hinge of History?
a. If my Hinge of History view is true, we should expect to see more of this, as those engaged in The Area is becoming more and more divided, while those (the vast majority of voters) say a pox on both your houses.
b. At some point one side or the other will win The Debate (in the minds of those not engaged in The Area) then....? I say this because "Trends That Cannot Continue...Won't"

 

 

That is, when the Democrats win control of the government, public opinion moves in a conservative direction, and when Republicans win, public opinion moves in a liberal direction, the obvious implication being that Democratic administrations are more liberal than the median voter wants, and Republican administrations more conservative

 

 

1. Recall us talking about the difference between Ideology and Politics? IMO way too many people don't seem to get this.

2. Go to either TOS or DU and we can see many many many examples of those who don't understand this.

 

 

 

Good find BTW Alas it won't be read by those who should read it.