To be found in a compromising position

Compromise....it is an interesting word and, at face value, sounds like a noble thing. But the word has dramatically different definitions. One definition is "an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions" as in "the secret of a happy marriage is compromise." (This is the noble definition)

Oops

Then there is the definition "the acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable" as in "she would not compromise herself by sleeping with him." (this is the not-so-noble definition)


We hear a lot of talk by our political leaders about the need to "compromise." I'm curious which definition they are referring to. I think they want to convince us that it is the former but frequently give us the latter.


There is the old joke that ends with a woman asking the man at the bar "what do you think I am?" He says "well, we've already established that, now we are just negotiating price." (If you want the entire joke, you can Google it yourself)


Something happens to politicians that stay in Washington (in power) too long. They are almost like prisoners that spend a long time in prison...they become "institutionalized" and forget what the real, outside world is actually like and, in many cases, don't want to return to the "real world." Our founding fathers never intended for our elected officials to become career, professional politicians. Something bad happens...not because they are bad people with initial bad intentions. The institution itself is dysfunctional at best and corrupt at its worst. 

The problem with fixing this is many of us believe that "our" guy or gal in Washington is one of the good ones and should stay. Individually, they may be sound legislators but, collectively, they are out of touch, and hungry to maintain the power that the office provides. The other problem is that, unless a newcomer becomes your party's candidate, you are forced to vote for someone from the other party in order to not vote for the incumbent who needs to leave along with all the others. I'm not sure this will ever be fixed unless term limits are implemented. Even then it will be difficult to change the course for a very long time, if ever. Our politicians are driving us over a cliff and, in the meantime, they are arguing about who gets to ride shotgun.


The uprising that produced the current Tea Party began, not under Barack Obama, but George Bush. It was not about Democrat or Republican or Obama or Bush...it was about our government spending money at such an enormous rate with no end in sight. People said...enough. We are over 14 trillion dollars in debt...and climbing fast. The number is so large it defies comprehension. At some point, it cannot be sustained...we may already be past the point of return. We are paying our Visa bill with our MasterCard and a Ponzi scheme like this would normally put someone in prison. Our representatives in Washington have painfully demonstrated that they cannot or will not fix this crushing debt problem and our grossly punitive tax policy.


There are some things on which I am unwilling to compromise...they are just too important. I wouldn't make a good politician.