One of the repeating themes in U.S. history that I remember learning from high school history class is the ability of senators and congressmen to come together and compromise.
This concept is one of the cornerstones of what makes the United States, and representative democracy, so great. John Boehner’s recent stepping down points to the fact that compromise and agreement are not headed to a good place in America.
The ideas and methods of the far right in Congress have alienated Boehner, one of the few moderate Republicans left there, and are causing more conflict than resolution.
Extremist politicians and their constituents vote in people who adhere to their extreme values — whatever they might be. Because of this trend, those who’ve adopted this political mindset work to derail progress, instead of working with moderates like John Boehner to increase compromise.
The ability for people who disagree to come together and sacrifice some of their own desires and goals for the sake of progress, for the good of all the people and the country as a whole— I believe that phenomenon has all but disappeared as of today.
There is no “Great Compromiser” to bring the two warring parties together on issues that matter. Politics are so partisan; it doesn’t seem as if anyone dares try to fill this role.
Even Charlie, Mac and Dee’s “Pickle Party” from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” taught the characters the benefits of compromise, and this can be seen as a microcosm of how U.S. politics used to operate. Both parties in an agreement lose something they want, but in the end, they both also get something they want. In the case of the characters in the show, they had to agree whether to have thick or thin limes in their drinks (they chose pickles instead) and how big a crucifix they would hang in the bar along with how much blood it would have. Agreements are reached, and in the end, begrudgingly accepting a less-than perfect compromise is infinitely better than endless arguing without any resolution in sight. Gridlock and stagnation, bickering and fighting— these all have come to replace a steady march towards the greater good.
Perhaps this shift is due to the phenomenon that, out of the people who vote, most are extremists obsessed with voting for their sworn cause, while the more moderate majority of people are too busy living their lives, paying bills, attending school, working, etc. to have the time or energy to go vote on election day.
In short, compromise has, up until now, been an unflagging component of our representative democracy.
It has allowed progress to occur and very often leads to a satisfactory agreement for both of the agreeing parties. The lack of compromise in today’s political arena is very concerning, and perhaps voting in more moderates, on both sides of the political spectrum, can return the political environment to normalcy.
I urge both Democrats and Republicans alike to carefully consider to whom they give their vote and, at the very least, to vote.
Don’t let your political system, which controls many things that influence the fate of your life, be hijacked by extremists and left to crumble and ruin.
Be a Patriot and vote for those candidates willing to improve the United States, though they may have to make concessions here or there.
