THE JEWISH JOURNAL: “MAYBE SOME SUSPECT THAT ONLY CHUMPS SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND WITH SCORPIONS”

In the fight for the beleaguered stimulus package in the United States, hundreds of representatives and senators have had to attempt to agree on $827 billion in stimulus package projects.  There are many interests at stake–sometimes contradictory.  Finding common ground on the issue of the economy is not difficult:  we all suffer as a result of the economic downturn and something needs to change to counteract this.  But in the process of dividing the aid to a weary country, feet get stepped on, egos bruised, and vital interests ignored.  The so-called “Brigadoon of bipartisanship” is as illusive as ever.  If anyone needs a conflict manager right now, it is definitely the U.S. Congress.  Unfortunately, the media has become a spoiler in the efforts for agreement between the two sides by focusing on emotional narratives instead of cold, hard facts.

Question to the Blogosphere:  What should the media do to facilitate quicker resolution of differences within Congress in the future?  Are there individuals appointed to serve as mediators between representatives in Congress who disagree on issues like allocation in the stimulus package?  What happens when sensitive interests blind people to the common ground they have?