Final answer:
The failure to compromise on key issues can result in public policy disasters. This is exacerbated by political polarization and the complexity of resolving specifics in collective decision-making. The decline in political moderation also contributes to the increasing difficulty of finding common ground in policy matters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Failing to compromise on major issues by finding common ground can lead to disaster in public policy. Compromise involves recognizing potential areas for consensus and the necessity of embracing partial advancements toward objectives. Today's public discourse, characterized by extremes and political polarization due in part to social media and concise reporting, challenges compromise. The trend towards single-issue politics heightens policy gridlock, as does the reluctance of decision-makers to address divisive issues, leading to 'non-decisions' that inadvertently shape public policy.
Moreover, when there is general consensus for action, the specifics can become a contentious battleground. Policy debates, like those surrounding climate change, highlight difficulties in aligning on details due to differing viewpoints on implementation. Legislative and bureaucratic processes complicate the resolution of collective decisions, inflating coordination, transaction, and conformity costs.
Lastly, political moderation is gradually diminishing, widening the ideological divide and making it tougher to secure bipartisan consensus on critical matters. Exploring and understanding competing values can cultivate empathy and foster agreement among various stakeholders, improving the potential for unanimous and effective decision-making.