ABSTRACT
In Chapter 7, I sought to answer the question of whether or not the paralysis in Congress is a reflection of a polarized electorate. I found that a quarter of the electorate are strongconservatives and/or strong Republicans and I call them the Rigid Right; a quarter are strong liberals and/or strong Democrats and I call them the Rigid Left. By “rigid” I mean that they are immovable; they are never swayed by short-term forces. This leaves half the electorate who are malleable, who can be persuaded to change in response to short-term forces. The Malleable are not only Independents, but weak Democrats, weak Republicans, ordinary liberals, ordinary conservatives, bi-ideologicals, and those with no belief system. This Malleable half is not represented by an intransigent Congress. The completely paralyzed Congress reflects only the Rigid half.
The conclusion in Chapter 7 is that the reasons for the paralysis in Congress lie internally within Congress itself and are based on a failure to honor the duties prescribed in the Constitution (such as giving advice and consent), a change in the Rules that allow a minority of forty senators to block any legislation by simply saying they oppose it, and party leaders who refuse to work across the aisle and who demand lock-step voting or else face a well-financed opponent.
