Creating the Illusion of Progress and Integrity

The Sunlight Foundation captures a political tactic in Like Swimming in Molasses

“At Sunlight, when we learned that Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was convening a task force to address the issue of earmarks, we knew the odds of progress were slim. McConnell is an appropriator, a champion of earmarks and an ardent foe of almost every conceivable good government reform. He also has a keen political ear. So by forming a task force on earmark reform, he could arguably demonstrate action without actually moving. As “The Hill” reports here, Senator McConnell not only continues placing obstacles to moderate reform, but he is resisting a push for earmark transparency coming from within his own party.

How did McConnell undertake the issue without putting his caucus at risk of actually having to change its ways on earmarks? He appointed a working group with members on such opposite ends of the earmark spectrum odds were against success. Then he told them to come up with a unanimous recommendation. When they did that, McConnell moved the goal line again, saying he would attempt to work with the Democratic Leader to consider creating a Senate Rule the encompassed the suggestions. Even the most casual political observer wouldn’t be surprised to find that those “negotiations” came to nothing.

So it appears that the tactic is for leaders to pretend to seek solutions by putting the least flexible legislators together to negotiate. It seems to me that if the goal is progress then leaders would put the most pragmatic members of their team at the table. thus solutions that would appeal to the majority citizens are thwarted in order to protect either personal interests, special interests or the allegiance of narrow minded constituents. So what do you think is the remedy?