Union: A Democrat, a Republican, and a Search for Common Ground by Christopher Haugh, Jordan Blashek

Union is an insightful and engrossing book, written by Christopher Haugh, exploring the possibilities of finding common ground between the two primary political parties in the United States.

Starting with the breakdown of the two separate ideologies of the Democratic and the Republican parties, Haugh explores why and how the two parties have become so entrenched in their own perspectives. As the Republican party largely focuses on fiscal restraint and individual responsibility, their Democratic counterpart emphasizes social responsibility and liberal use of the government to promote social justice and equality.

Taking a look at both sides of the aisle, Haugh introduces us to the people who inhabit both parties. He covers various topics from the basic ideological structures of the parties to in-depth looks at individual politicians and the policies they promote. While there is no shortage of conflict between the two parties, Haugh wants to answer the question: is there a way for all sides to come together and come to a consensus?

To explain how this could be achieved, Haugh proposes that the two major political groups should align themselves more closely on a particular issue, such as healthcare or climate change, to look for common ground. As he writes, “The specific characteristics of any given issue will necessarily frame the parameters of potential solutions, but the activity of seeking common ground places the emphasis on resolving problems, not on scoring political points.”

Haugh also dives into the “third way” as a possible solution to bridging the divide between the two sides. This concept, which postulates that both the Democrats and the Republicans need to find unique solutions to reach common ground, shifts the focus away from taking an ideological stance and essentially forces both parties to come together and find a mutually-agreed upon solution.

The power of Haugh’s Union lies in its ability to show the importance of collaborating in order to achieve common goals, regardless of politics. Exploring a large variety of sources, ranging from interviews with federal lawmakers to newspaper articles, Haugh’s conclusion is clear: the Democrats and the Republicans need to put aside their differences, embrace the “third way”, and look for common ground.

Overall, Union is an entertaining and informative read that paints the current state of the United States’ political environment in an informative manner. Breaking down the two major ideological stances, Haugh shows how the divide between the two parties can be bridged, and common ground can be found. Looking at the “third way” as a possible solution, Haugh eloquently highlights how both sides have the potential to come to an agreement on a common issue, providing a light at the end of the tunnel for the political gridlock that has long plagued the government.