Political negotiation and moderation in a divided system

In a polarized political system, the lack of temperamentally moderate politicians who understand the importance of negotiation contributes to the dysfunction of institutions. Politicians often prioritize expressing frustrations of constituents over negotiating on their behalf, which hinders the bargaining and accommodation processes envisioned in the political system. This results in two opposing camps that only talk amongst themselves rather than engaging in continuous negotiations. The current political climate discourages politicians from making deals across party lines, viewing such actions as a sign of weakness or betrayal of principles. As a result, the system punishes the kind of ongoing negotiations necessary for effective governance.