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18 | TH E M R EP O RT COVER STORY readily to easy buzzwords and catchphrases about the govern- ment and economy. That, in turn, obscures the real reasons change probably won't come with either Democratic or Republican candidates. Moran nodded at forces beyond most voters' locus of control, forces that encourage hyper-partisanship and make any reasoned debate over laws like Dodd-Frank that much more unlikely to happen. Gerrymandering is a culprit, he told us, as is "the echo chamber of the media" and the big-money requirements of running a campaign that draw candidates to Wall Street donors in the first place. But gone, too, are the days when lawmakers actually spent time with each other and their families in Washington, D.C. Indeed, speaking at a Five Star Conference in 2012, former President George W. Bush not only lamented programs like TARP, which he called necessary, but also the loss of a sense of decency in the relationships between Democrats and Republicans. "Democrats and Republicans really live in two alternate universes right now," Moran added. "The interests groups get larger and more influential. I don't know if you can avoid it. I think the days of reasonable compromise may be over." Regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican takes the White House, one thing's for certain: Dodd-Frank's fate hangs in the balance. RYAN SCHUETTE is a journalist, cartoonist, and social entrepreneur. Originally from Texas, he has lived and reported in Uganda, Tanzania, and Washington, D.C. He has reported for National Public Radio, Al Jazeera America, Mic, and other news outlets, and his beats range from American politics to mortgage finance and foreign aid. He holds a master of arts in journalism and public affairs from American University. To learn more about Schuette, visit RyanSchuette.com. THE CANDIDATES ON DODD-FRANK, WALL STREET, AND REFORM Whether During a Debate or on the Road, Politicians from Both Parties Have Weighed In DEMOCRATIC PARTY "[T]here should be no bank too big to fail and no individual too powerful to jail . . . I'm going to defend Dodd- Frank and I'm going to defend President Obama for taking on Wall Street." Hillary Clinton, Former Secretary of State, via the Washington Post "I will rein in Wall Street so they cannot crash our economy again. Will the folks on Wall Street like me? No. Will they begin to play by the rules if I am president[?] . . . [Y]ou better believe it." Bernie Sanders, Senator, Vermont, via ABC News REPUBLICAN PARTY "The [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] is the ultimate example of regulatory overreach, a nanny state mechanism asserting its control over everyday Americans that they did not want, did not ask for, and do not need." Ben Carson, Neurosurgeon, via The Washington Times "Goldman [Sachs] is one of the biggest banks on Wall Street, and my criticism with Washington is they engage in crony capitalism. They give favors to Wall Street and Big Business, and that's why I've been an outspoken opponent of crony capitalism, taking on leaders in both parties." Ted Cruz, Senator, Texas, via Politico "I learned a lot about the way America works when I worked at Lehman Brothers. . . . If you want to rebuild this economy, you better have somebody elected that understands the economic situation in this country and what makes businesses invest." John Kasich, Former Governor, Ohio, via Bloomberg "We need to repeal Dodd-Frank. It is eviscerating small businesses and small banks. Over 40 percent of small and midsize banks that loan money to small businesses have been wiped out since Dodd-Frank has passed." Marco Rubio, Senator, Florida, via PolitiFact "I . . . think we need to get rid of Dodd-Frank. The banks aren't loaning money to people who need it . . . The regulators are running the banks, and that's why our country—I mean, people can't borrow money today." Donald Trump, Chairman, The Trump Organization, via Fox Business