Compromise is key

Future House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio recently reiterated a point that most people already knew: Republicans will not compromise.


“This is not a time for compromise, and I can tell you that we will not compromise on our principles,” Boehner told conservative talk show host, Sean Hannity.

Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana echoed similar sentiments on a radio show saying, “There will be no compromise on repealing Obamacare. There will be no compromise on stopping Democrats from growing government and raising taxes. And if I haven’t been clear enough yet, let me say again: no compromise.”

Sara Palin agreed on Fox News saying, “No, they should not compromise on principle. Absolutely not. That’s been part of the problem is those who’ve decided to go along to get along and make these compromises.”

Time will tell if this was simply election rhetoric or rigid ignorance, but we need to explain to our leaders that compromise is the key to progress, and we expect nothing less. We deserve nothing less.

A country of 300 million diverse individuals cannot prosper or accomplish anything unless we work together. We do not all want or believe the same things, so obviously none of us will get everything we want. The only certainty is that we must all sacrifice some things in order to achieve anything.

Compromise leads to a consensus. It gives us a foundation to build on and push from to propel us forward. Without compromise, the United States would not exist. It was the only way our Founding Fathers were able to draft the Constitution.

According to a CBS poll, most Americans understand this. Three-quarters of likely voters said that if Republicans take over, they should compromise on some things in order to get things done (66 percent of republicans agreed). Seventy-one percent of likely voters, including 79 percent of Republicans, said that Obama should compromise if his party loses the house.

Well, the democrats did lose the house and Obama has already extended an olive branch, but it is too soon for the republicans. It seems they want to relish in the "shellacking" they gave the dems and continue their collective chest beating a little longer.

That is why it is up to the voters to send another message: It is not time to relax now that the midterms are over. Don’t get cozy in the warmth of victory.

We need to contact our elected leaders, new and old, and demand that they work together. The only other option is to not work at all. Crossing our arms instead of reaching out our hands will not dig us out of this hole that we are all in together.