Who owns the partisan divide?

For some people, some perceptions of reality can change over time. For others, most perceptions tend to remain more or less fixed. California Moderates (CM) perceptions can change over time. One CM perception was and still is that American politics is highly partisan and broken or dysfunctional to some degree. In June of 2011, and with the caveat that this isn't a precise science, it seemed reasonable to assign credit (or blame) for the dysfunctional partisan divide like this:

Republican party: 25%

Democratic party: 25%

Wealthy special interests: 20%

The press: 10%

The public: 20%

U.S. Marines training with M2 heavy machine gun

January 30, 2012

Although it is is still not a precise science, CM sees things differently since then:

Wealthy special interests: 20%

The press: 20%

The public: 60% 

What changed? Where did the two parties go?

Some CM perceptions have changed. The two parties merged into wealthy special interests because they are wealthy special interests. That took some time to see and fully understand, but the reality is there. Its an easily defensible view of reality. The press almost merged into the same category, but one can still reasonably argue that even though the press is usually co-opted, out manned and distracted, it still does occasionally act in the public interest.

The main perception change is the public's role. It is clear that only the public has the power to change anything. If one can accept the reality that special interests act in their own interest, not the public interest, it is no surprise that the political parties act in their own interest first and the public interest third behind "non-public" special interests with the money. When special interests act in their own interests*, its just natural and no surprise. That's the definition of a special interest. Sure, special interests do spin and polarize, but that's just what they are supposed to do. Its up to the public, not special interests, to see through the smoke and haze and act in their own interest.

* Not all special interests act only in their own interest, e.g., some (most?) charities work mostly for the public interest.

 U.S. Navy P3 Orion supporting 7th fleet operations

Northern Japan - April 5, 2012

If one can accept that as mostly true, then it should be no surprise that special interests spin (lie) and do what they can to deceive, distract and polarize the public. That's their job. That helps to maintain the status quo and a balance of power that favors special interests. To a large extent, it makes no sense to even look to special interests for change. Change has to come from the outside, i.e., the public itself aided by whatever feeble help the press can provide.