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Authors, sign in!The Republicans hold hands and say no! But it is the Democrats that refuse to compromise? A nearly 2/3 majority doesn't give much credence to the cry of the minority for compromise. Compromise, to the minority, has translated into; give me/us what I want, or I'll sit in the middle of the road and hold up traffic until you do!
The conservative far right and radical religionists have been beating the drums about patriotism and honorable service. But, that all sounds rather hollow to me, when they circle their wagons and refuse to allow honoring those volunteers, as well as civil servants, just compensation and health care for ailments as a result of their heroic efforts in the 9-11 disaster.
Most of the 'compromises' to allow advancing bills in the Senate, over the last two years, have resulted in the hodgepodge confusing health care bill. The minority has been allowed to broadcast half truths and outright misrepresentation of many of the bills before congress in the last two years. They have been allowed to blame the 'new' administration for continuing some of the bailout and economic policies that were initiated by the past administration. Can't you imagine the outcry if the Obama administration had immediately taken steps to repeal the previous 2 years work of the congress and Bush administration? Yet, that is exactly what they are promising to do, now.
They aren't talking about cleaning up or addressing obvious errors. They are promising complete repeal of entire programs and returning to the programs or lack of programs that put this nation in the predicament we were in at the end of the Bush administration.
Someone needs to define when it is compromise and when it is blackmail and extortion. Are the Republicans honestly trying to do what is right for the nation, or are they holding the nation hostage? They shout victory and public mandate because they gained a majority in the house and weakened the Democratic majority in the Senate in the recent midterm election. Never mind that historically the winning presidential party has lost ground in the midterm elections. They never recognized any public mandate when the Democrats gained the majority in the mid term election during Bush's last term. They never recognized any public mandate when the Democrats swept both houses and a majority of the governor's races across the country in 2008.
No! They heard a public outcry that shouted NO to everything the Democrats had supported on the campaign trail. Did the election officials all across the country miss count the ballots? Did the declared winners have to rely on the, apparent, partisan highest judicial court to declare the winners?
Published November 27, 2010 by Ken Poland |
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Congress
Health Care Reform
Health Policy
Legislation
Politics
Comments (2)
I share your frustration with the Republican Party these past two years. I think the problem is that there are less moderate Republicans in the GOP now, so there is less areas where Democrats and Republicans can work together. Over the past few decades, conservatives have been driving out the moderate Republicans, and in the recent elections, the Tea Party has driven out even mainstream conservatives like Senator Bennett. The Republican Party is moving farther to the right, and they're forcing the political conversation of this country to be set on their terms, so that people who would be moderate a few years ago are now seen as "liberal" or even "socialist" in their eyes. I think liberals and progressives have to raise their voices and force the political pendulum to swing back from that far right mentality.
Posted by Angelo Lopez
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November 27, 2010 1:09 PM
Posted on November 27, 2010 13:09
The second sentence in my post, "But it is the Democrats that refuse to compromise" should read; but is it the Democrats who refuse to compromise?
A 2/3 majority doesn't usually need to compromise. Our system is set up to protect the minorities, not to give minorities dictatorial power to demand their way.
How do we protect the minority? The Supreme Court rules against the majority on the basis of the Constitution. Then it takes a majority in the legislature and a majority of the states to amend the constitution. When it is all said and done, the majority does finally rule.
Posted by Ken Poland
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November 27, 2010 2:32 PM
Posted on November 27, 2010 14:32