No Peace or Goodwill on Earth

It seems that peace and goodwill toward men at this time of the year seem to disappear in different places. The noble goal of America seems to have been abandoned by the U.S. Capitol, where many members are angry and divided at one another.

Researchers at the University of Michigan have released a new study. Cornell University finds there may be an actual “tipping point” where no issue imaginable can unite Republicans and Democrats. Extreme polarization may become irreversible, according to the study. Worse, if that’s possible, the team’s predictive model for measuring the behavior of a polarized political group — like the current U.S. Senate — shows that even an attack by a foreign power or another pandemic would not heal the political divide.

Gerald Seib observed in his 2021 Year in Review column The Wall Street Journal: “Neither party is strong enough to impose its will, while polarization has made compromise nearly impossible.”

It’s one thing to lament such a development and another to attempt to do something about it. Jonathan Perman can be called a fool when fools hurry in to places angels don’t dare. Perman is co-director of The Bipartisan Policy Center’s American Congressional Exchange (ACE). This non-profit organization was established in 2018. Its stated goal is to assign Congressmen to each other, even if they don’t know one another well. visit each other’s districtsThey hope to discover common interests. Although it sounds like a student exchange program designed for adults, students seem to get along better with each other than elected officials.

These new relationships make a difference to policy. Perman tells me, “They are smaller things. Social Security will not be solved overnight. This is incremental.”

He also mentions Rep. Jack Bergman, (Republican from Michigan), who last year visited District of Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D–FL). They cosponsored a bill that would help military personnel transition into civilian life five weeks later after their trip (Perman claims they only had met once). Both agreed that they wouldn’t have been able to get together if not for the trip sponsored through ACE. Murphy subsequently visited Bergman’s district.

Rep. David McKinley (R. West Virginia) and Rep. Paul Tonko(D.NY) serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Perman said Tonko hadn’t been to West Virginia before. They spent two days touring mine sites, where Tonko was able to meet miners. McKinley visited an hydrogen plant in Albany, August. Perman said that McKinley is aware of the transition to hydrogen production, and wants to protect his workers. Their co-sponsored the bill that would encourage clean hydrogen development.

Perman claims that ACE covers the expenses of the visiting member, and trips to the House are approved by its Ethics Committee. More than 30 trips have already been made, Perman claims. These “dignify differences” he says of issues that are not resolved. “There is nothing wrong with differences, but this program gives members an opportunity to see parts of the country they know nothing about.”

The problem is that leadership often tells members not to work with each other. Many conservatives believe compromise is a requirement that Republicans give more than they receive.

It’s easy to be cynical about such things as Members of Congress must appeal to their respective constituencies. It is difficult for a Democrat and Republican to be seen dining together in Washington – even should they wish to — lest someone take a picture and use it against one or the other in the next campaign for consorting with “the enemy.” However, any effort to create peace and goodwill should be encouraged, not dismissed out of hand. Peace was the cry of the angels on the birth day of the Prince. Congress and us all would be well served to hear their voices.