Compromise is a sign of strength
Seven Taboo Political Subjects #7:
The Politics:
Only a foolish politician would happily declare “The other side makes some valid points, and I have changed my mind”, or “My job is to represent the entire district, not just the people who voted for me. So I support this consensus agreement.”
The Reality:
America, and its founding documents, were built on compromise. We exist as a nation because compromise is not a weakness but rather a pragmatic source of strength in a democracy.
Though our Founding Fathers endowed America with an enduring political legacy which has achieved almost mythic proportions, in fact they were merely people, not demigods. Some were racists, others deists, all were men, and most were prisoners of their time. Many were deeply suspicious of the motives of their fellow delegates at the constitutional convention.
After a long, expensive, and divisive war, a peacetime consensus was not assured. To overcome these differences, our constitution was born as a compromise, pragmatically balancing states’ rights against federal powers, slaveholders against mercantile interests, and branch against branch- while granting individual freedoms and political power to a select few.
Yet our current Congress has forgotten this lesson of strength through compromise. Demonizing the other side’s intentions, unwilling to give an inch of ground. Viewing compromise as synonymous with capitulation. Ignoring the public’s desire to solve problems (even imperfectly), especially if it means you must cross party lines to best serve the nation.
Compromise is at the heart of the Golden Rule, which moderates the potential tyranny of the majority through mutual reflection.
Structurally the two-party system and winner-take-all elections conspire against compromise. The excessive leverage wielded in a democracy by a narrow majority is too tempting a prize to resist. Motivating both sides to grab power while they can, pressing a single-vote advantage to the limit.
Politicians are creatures of self-interest, not principles. They constantly accuse the other side of some horrible intentions, only to adopt the same tactics when returned to power. Conveniently forgetting the past. Putting party before public.
Along with compromise, we should all learn to evolve with the facts. Changing your mind in light of new information and better arguments is a sign of wisdom, not weakness, and a durable habit of leadership.
Ben Franklin owned slaves. His newspaper empire advertised slave auctions, and he held a poor opinion of the dark race (along with Catholics, Indigenous Americans, and numerous others). But then he visited a school for negro children, and was astonished to realize they were every bit as alert and bright as whites. This cognitive dissonance resonated. His views moderated, he accepted the Presidency of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and worked diligently (for a man of his time) towards equality. A pragmatic child of science, he kept an open mind despite his prejudices, and moved our nation forward.
Humans are masses of contradictions. By insisting on high and unachievable standards, such as the single-minded focus on zero-tolerance, it makes it impossible to celebrate, encourage and build on incremental gains in behavior.
Instead, we should embrace compromise, compromise in politics and compromise in personal judgements. And elect politicians more interested in finding solutions than sowing discord.
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