Our President is trying to negotiate with people who don't care if a deal is reached or not. They have no skin in the game

By Guest Column -- Carl Hastings —— Bio and Archives December 17, 2018

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When 2 business people sit down to hammer out a deal, both have something to win and something to lose. They weigh the gains against the loses. Ideally, both sides come away feeling like winners. This is the world President Trump understands. This is the way he has been successful. It is also the way rational people expect their Congress to function. We expect them to sit across from each other and stay there until a problem is solved. We want them to do the hard work. In doing so, they will learn about the motivation of the other side and they will gain respect. That's why business people often say they like one another. Here's the problem. Our President is trying to negotiate with people who don't care if a deal is reached or not. They have no skin in the game. Of the 12 wealthiest Senators only 3 are Republican. Taking an unyielding position on anything from immigration to gun control has no impact on these people. They fly in private jets, have drivers, have multiple homes, domestic help, the finest of healthcare, clothing and food. They give no thought to having money for food, utilities, insurance, or anything else. What would motivate them to compromise? Not a darn thing. They can grind things to a halt with no pain to themselves. That is why we are deadlock in this country.