When did compromise become a bad word? In today's Washington Post, Senator John McCain calls on his fellow political leaders to sit down together and compromise. Truthfully, this is how anything of significance gets done. Somehow things changed and folks began to think they aren't effective unless they get exactly what they want and to hell with everyone else. The world doesn't work that way - at least not in a democracy which is what we are supposed to have here in the United States.
Ask people who've been married a long time and they will tell you they don't get their way all the time. Successful relationships between adults are built on compromise. We should expect no less from the people we elected to office. We need them to get systems in place that serve as many people as possible. We need the healthcare issue resolved. We need the immigration issue resolved. We need to create an atmosphere of equality and opportunity for everyone.
As John McCain did in his article, we need to remind our elected officials who they work for and who they are accountable to: us - not big businesses, not the president, not foreign powers or leaders. The only way they will realize this is by our speaking up and making our voices heard. It is so easy these days to communicate via email or telephone. If you can go to town hall meetings or visit your representative in their offices, great. If not, phone and email work.
Realize you might not get everything exactly the way you want it to be - compromises will most likely have to be made for the good of all. As long as we're moving in a direction that supports the vision and ideals on which this country was founded, we'll be okay. This will happen only if we participate in the process and make our voices heard.
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