This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

How does the lack of bi-partisan cooperation rank on your list of major public policy issues facing this country?

Does it make your list at all?  Rank up there with abortion, gun control, and immigration?

If so, good.

If not, consider putting it on your list.

The headline in this blog summarizes the results of a new PEW study on America’s top problems, at least in the view of those who were polled.  [PEW, by the way, is a family name, not an acronym.]

And, for me, there was one surprising and welcome conclusion from the PEW study: Americans are concerned about the lack of bi-partisan cooperation among those who represent us in Congress and elsewhere.

I believe it is high-time Americans recognized this reality, which threatens the very democracy many of us say we hold dear.

Here is a quick summary of the PEW results, based on a survey conducted June 5-11 among 5,115 members of the organization’s American Trends Panel:

“The public’s list of the top problems facing the nation includes inflation, health care affordability, drug addiction, and gun violence.

“Yet, the ability of Republicans and Democrats to work together rates about as high on the problems list as these other concerns.  And it is one of the few, among 16 problems on which there is no partisan divide.

“Inflation remains the top concern for Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, with 77 per cent saying it is a very big problem.  The state of moral values, illegal immigration, and the budget deficit also are seen as top problems by at least two-thirds of Republicans.

“For Democrats and Democrat leaners, gun violence is the top concern, with about eight-in-ten – 81 per cent — saying it is a very big problem. The affordability of health care ranks second.

“Democrats are more than four times as likely as Republicans to say that climate change is a very big problem in the country.  Democrats are also much more likely to say gun violence and racism are very big problems.

“By contrast, Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to say that illegal immigration is a very big problem.  They are also about 30 percentage points more likely than Democrats to say that the state of moral values and the budget deficit are very big problems.”

My career as a lobbyist underlines that bi-partisan cooperation – or, today, the lack of it – should be a top issue for all of America, no matter where you live.

All of us watch Congress melt down most of the time.  Then, we anticipate a presidential political campaign next year which is still taking shape, but which will underline the idea of differences, not agreement, on policy.  Criminal charges also will roil the campaigns.

In Oregon, we have witnessed political dissension, too, though Republicans and Democrats finally found a way to agree in Salem, which meant the end of the current legislative session occurred on time, June 25.

I hope the conduct of government will remain a top concern for all Americans, or if it is not already on your list, consider adding it.