Major parties have lived more for patronage than for principles; their goal has been to bind together a sufficiently large coalition of diverse interests to get into power; and once in power, to arrange sufficiently satisfactory compromises of interests to remain there.
The major political parties have primarily focused on gaining power through patronage rather than adhering to core principles. Their strategy revolves around assembling a broad coalition of various interests, which enables them to secure electoral victories. This approach highlights a pragmatic political landscape where loyalty and support are often traded for favors rather than ideology.
Once in power, these parties then work to forge compromises that can accommodate the diverse interests within their coalition. This often leads to a political environment where the pursuit of governing stability takes precedence over principled stands or significant reforms, as they aim to maintain their hold on power by keeping their diverse support base content.