Grand Bargains

Villagers love the idea of a couple octogenarian senators - one conservative Republican, one conservative Democrat - hashing things out in some back room in the middle of the night, forging some "compromise" which can be quickly rushed through Congress without anyone having to put their fingerprints on it. They believe there are "tough choices" which involve additional misery for the most desperate and vulnerable, and that the voters can't be trusted to support those choices. So we must have the grand bargain, the compromise blessed by everyone who matters without worrying the beautiful minds of voters.