---
title: "We Can Work it Out"
description: "Eight-in-ten Americans say Democrats and Republicans in Congress are not working together."
date: "2010-03-24"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/03/24/we-can-work-it-out/"
---

# We Can Work it Out

Very few Americans see much work being done across the partisan aisle in Washington. Just 12% say Democrats and Republicans are working together, while an overwhelming 81% say they are not. In fact, the perception that the two parties are not working together is a rare point of partisan agreement: Large majorities of Republicans (89%), Democrats (79%) and independents (84%) agree there is little to no bipartisan work being done. When asked who is to blame, however, partisanship among the public returns. A plurality of Republicans blame Democratic leaders (44%), a plurality of Democrats blame Republican leaders (45%) and very few in either party blame their own representatives. Characteristically, independents split the difference: an equal share blame the Republican and Democratic leaders (20% each) and 30% explicitly blame both. Overall, the public puts more blame on the GOP (25%), while 18% say Democratic leaders and 27% volunteer that leaders of both parties are to blame for failing to work together. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1530/poll-health-care-costs-prefer-new-bill)