Living in the time when majorities are too small

[Crepuscular]

2. ...

The natural evolution of slim majorities is the transition to coalition governments. The first step may be coalitions created by caucuses, not by third parties but such an evolution may well finally stimulate the establishment of viable third parties in this country.

As is becoming apparent, you don't need a majority in either the house or the senate to obstruct agendas and steer legislative directions, you just need a small minority that is willing to dig in on their core issues but go along with one of the other parties to create a majority, most of the time. Not saying this is a good thing, just the reality of the current situation.

Currently, elected independents such as King and Sanders reliably caucus with one party and are defacto members of that party but imagine if there were a dozen or so truly independent Senators, who voted with either party depending on the specific issue. They would wield a disproportionate amount of power within that body.

I can see that scenario evolving in the next decade or so, as the political divide becomes more evenly entrenched and gridlock becomes the norm.