The Perils of Partisanship: Lessons from Reagan and O'Neill by Steve Rosenberg

In today's polarized political landscape, the divisive forces of partisanship threaten to tear the fabric of our nation. The dangers of putting political party over the best interests of the country are evident, yet history offers a roadmap for what success can look like. One such lesson is the remarkable collaboration between President Ronald Reagan and Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, whose political differences were overshadowed by their commitment to serving the American people. 

During the 1980s, Reagan, a conservative Republican, and O'Neill, a liberal Democrat, occupied two of the most influential positions in American politics. Despite their ideological differences, they recognized that governing required compromise and cooperation. This spirit of bipartisanship led to the passage of several landmark pieces of legislation that shaped the course of American history. Their political differences were cast aside for the good of the United States of America and the citizens who inhabit this great land.

One of the most notable examples of Reagan and O'Neill's collaboration was the passage of the Social Security Amendments of 1983. Faced with the impending insolvency of the Social Security system, Reagan and O'Neill put aside their ideological differences and established the National Commission on Social Security Reform. The commission, chaired by Alan Greenspan, recommended a series of reforms that included an increase in the retirement age and the taxation of Social Security benefits. Reagan and O'Neill worked together to build bipartisan support for these reforms, ultimately securing their passage through Congress.

Another example of Reagan and O'Neill's bipartisan leadership was the Tax Reform Act of 1986. This landmark legislation overhauled the tax code, simplifying it and closing loopholes. Despite opposition from members of their own parties, Reagan and O'Neill worked tirelessly to build consensus and shepherd the bill through Congress. The result was a historic achievement that streamlined the tax code and stimulated economic growth. 

The collaboration between Reagan and O'Neill serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of putting country over party. Their ability to set aside their political differences and work together for the common good is a testament to the strength of American democracy. In today's hyperpartisan environment, we would do well to remember their example and strive to emulate their spirit of cooperation. Unfortunately without certain needed amendments to the United States Constitution – most notably term limits – we will have a difficult time reaching this type of cooperative spirit anytime soon.

It is important for legislators – particularly those in both the House of Representatives and the United States Congress – to see a new light. Their incessant need to continuously seek and fight for re-election clouds their judgement and does not allow them to represent their constituencies. The oft heard argument of, “it takes us time to learn the system,” is tantamount to why we need term limits. The fact that there is a system and that it is so complicated is proof that we must work hard to simplify how government at the federal level operates. Regardless of what side of the aisle you sit, the one thing we can probably all agree on is that the federal government is becoming increasingly difficult to trust. The framers of our Republic never anticipated lifelong public servants like Chuck Schumer or Mitch McConnell. It is not healthy for any country to enlist representatives who serve for decades. 

We teach the spirit of cooperation to our children at the youngest possible ages. The old adage of playing well together in the sandbox sadly ends at some point. We are all in this together and this once proud and strong nation has fallen on embarrassingly hard times. While no country is perfect – and this one has many problems with which to dwell upon – one can easily argue that the United States of America is the greatest country in the history of the world providing opportunity for anyone who opts to work hard. 

As we confront the challenges of the 21st century, let us heed the lessons of history and prioritize the common good over partisan interests. Let us remember that, as Reagan famously said, "there is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." If we can emulate the spirit of bipartisanship exemplified by Reagan and O'Neill, there is no challenge we cannot overcome, and no problem we cannot solve.

Let’s let the legacy of Reagan and O'Neill reminds us that political differences need not be insurmountable barriers to progress. By putting aside partisan interests and working together for the common good, we can build a brighter future for all Americans. Let us strive to follow their example and build a more perfect union for generations to come. United we stand – divided we fail.

Steve Rosenberg is the Principal of the TeamGSD. He is also the author of the book, Make Bold Things Happen: Inspirational Stories From Sports, Business And Life.