More voters cast ballots in the November 2004 election than in any presidential election since 1968, yet 40 percent of eligible voters still chose not to participate. Rimel argues that such voter apathy results, in part, from a political system stalled by partisan gridlock and ruled by politicians in thrall to special interest money. Rimel's solution? Compromise. To counter a culture where "compromise is seen as a weakness, not leadership," Rimel implores legislators to reach across the aisle and seek bipartisan solutions to some of our most intractable problems: money in politics, inaction on global climate change and uncertain retirement security for this nation's seniors.

Summary by Commonwealth Club staff.