Compromise is not a dirty word.

[cleveramerican]

Democracy requires compromise and it always did. The republicans forgot that these last several years. Thats the biggest reason they are at such a horrible dead end.
I tend to think its really about putting aside the emotional aspects of governing and just getting on with what can be agreed upon. In the final analysis the job of legislators is to work it out and proceed. I am not willing to let them off the hook.

But what about your convictions you say? I tend to think of convictions like the goal line, its what your aiming for.The odds of making it all the way on one play are long, so you persevere and build consensus and move the ball down field in incremental bits. Keeping your eyes on the horizon of your convictions.


I wish things moved faster, but I'm not expecting them to.
I wish the solutions were more clear, but they never were before.
Its supposed to be hard to get things through the congress, there's a good reason for that.



In business, In my life, I have learned you make the deal you can get and you move on.
This is what I expect from politicians, The smart successful ones know that.


no body ever prospered by throwing themselves on their sword.

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. Welcome to DU!

[aquart]

2. This nation was designed to function ONLY thru compromise.

It was set up that way deliberately.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. But compromise only works if both sides compromise.

We offer A, they offer Z, we settle on M.
Next time out we start at M, they offer Z, we settle on S.

With every compromise we move further to the right.

If the other side refuses to budge, we must also. If that engenders gridlock, so be it.

[cleveramerican]

4. public pressure balances that out.

The public demands common sense. Either party WILL ALWAYS go too far, and the public pulls 'em back. This is our saving grace as a nation.The Pendulum swings back and forth.