Political Compromise
by Loveless Review
Just about everyday I hear someone say something like “I wish those congressmen would compromise! Why can’t they just come together and agree?” We’ll this is a very good question, why not?
When you ask the people who say these thing, “What should be compromised?”, they will almost undoubtedly say the opposing party. Basically they are saying that they won’t give up their position but the opposition should. That’s compromise?
It is amazing to see how an entire society of people seem to be under the impression that they should get what they want simply because they want it regardless of others. A people that are so close minded that they think their way is the only reasonable approach. A people who won’t give an idea that comes from a different party a second glance because of its source.
These are people who are otherwise rational. Most of them are intelligent competent. But they have this mind set so ingrained into their being that they can’t (or won’t) see past the walls of the tiny, closed, consuming void they are in.
Let me be clear; I’m not talking about liberal ideas. I’m talking about both extremes of political views and the people who follow them so closely that that they are blind to the other side.
The reason to me is unclear which makes me wonder, is it curable?
I think the problem is cyclical, but we are currently enduring a Congress which does not properly value compromise in order to reach consensus and continue functioning. In the decades prior to the Civil War, the Congress had similar factions, groups unwilling to budge an inch, who characterized their actions as “standing on principle”. Unfortunately, the highest principle is to address public needs and concerns, and to do so requires efforts to reach agreement at all costs, including giving up some of what you want to get some of what you want. Compromise requires more self-discipline. These guys can’t handle deferred gratification, so nothing gets done.
I would agree with that. However I was talking about the public. People like you and me who have opinions.
I would even argue that the reason that congress can’t get anything don’t is BECAUSE they care to much about what the people think and getting re-elected instead of doing what best for the nation regardless of if it makes them unpopular. It’s a fine line of ‘should they do what they know is best regardless of popularity’ or ‘should they do the popular thing because it is the reason they were elected’
Also thanks for reading my blog. This was my first post.