The Art of Compormise

In the confrontational world that we see too often in our government today, “compromise” is considered to be a dirty word.  It is presented as a shameful act, an abandonment of principle and an acknowledgment of submission.  Actually though, compromise is one of the greatest arts of government and it is indispensable in the creation of great events, great families, and great nations.  America was built on compromises that made our nation into the premier government of the world.  Let’s go back and work on that art again.

Compromise requires certain things:  1)  a willingness to explore the issue through debate and discussion, 2)  agreement to define the shared problem, 3)  discussion and comparison of the available options and their benefits and costs, and 4) the exploration together to determine the criteria that a successful decision should achieve.   

All participants in the Compromise should have ability to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of the proposed alternative forms of action and new criteria and alternatives should actively be sought by all participants. 

Compromise IS the heart and soul of the democratic process.  It exalts discussion and dialogue, and the sharing together of the solution, the problem, the dream, and the building of the nation.