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Would Dr. Seuss now think we are all ... JUST SNEETCHES? |
| ungrateful for being elected by us to work out compromises. On the other hand according to a recent CNN poll, nearly seven in 10 independent voters seem ungrateful for our democracy’s famous ability to compromise, because they: • Favor raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, which Republicans oppose. • But also favor cuts on domestic spending, which Democrats oppose. Considering the foregoing, one must wonder if voters and politicians don’t quite grasp the concept that compromise* is a fundamental requirement to effectively run any large organization, especially government. I suspect voters are confused, uninformed, or exhausted while the politicians dilly and dally waiting for which lobbyist is going buy their vote. There is, of course, my inner conspiracy theorist that asks: What game is actually afoot? Is this seeming inability to compromise just a tactic by both political parties? Are they gambling that they can put off these difficult decisions until after the next election? Then, whichever party prevails, solutions will magically become obvious and harmoniously fall into place, thus reassuring the nation that THEY have saved the day. This second scenario seems a bit like the mean girl who spreads nasty rumors and rushes to the defense of the victim thus convincing everyone that she is morally superior. Probably not a technically correct analogy, but I think you know what I mean. So at the end of the day, are we just a nation of Sneetches bound to our view and our view only? Presuming you’ve read Dr. Seuss’ famous story of prejudice and discrimination, you might also remember the dire consequences resulting from the inability to compromise. “…This continues until the Sneetches are penniless and McBean departs a rich man, amused by their folly. Despite his assertion that "you can't teach a Sneetch," the Sneetches learn from this experience that neither plain-belly nor star-belly Sneetches are superior, and they are able to get along and become friends…” * Compromise: a settlement of a dispute by each party giving up some demands. RTM |