Across the Aisle: Why Bipartisanship Works for America

Bipartisanship has been essential to America’s success throughout its history. Today, however, there seems waning interest by politicians in both parties to work together to address pressing issues and find solutions.

In Across the Aisle, highly respected Republicans and Democrats argue persuasively that, time and again, bipartisanship on the local, state, and national levels has proven integral to moving America forward. Citing numerous examples, the contributors convincingly demonstrate that in the past and even in the present, politicians have set aside their differences and achieved compromises that put their towns, states, and country first.

A compelling and inspirational reminder that a two-party system built on compromise and mutual respect is integral to a functioning democracy, Across the Aisle offers a lodestone for our divisive time.

A former Congresswoman from Indiana, Jill Long Thompson taught ethics as a Visiting Clinical Associate Professor at the Kelley School of Business and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington. Until 2015 she was board chair and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration, a position to which she was appointed by President Barack Obama. She is the author of The Character of American Democracy: Preserving Our Past, Protecting Our Future.