POLITICS: Key is compromise

As I read the recent political news a word is frequently used that portends difficult days ahead. I refer to the word ADAMANT. Our democracy depends upon those who we elect to represent us to find compromise in order to make decisions that move our nation forward economically and morally. As our Founding Fathers discovered, compromise is often difficult to achieve, but must be accomplished if we are to continue to be the world's leading democracy. However, we hear that Nancy Pelosi is adamant about Social Security, John Boehner is adamant about taxes, the Tea Party is adamant about deficits, and on and on. The result is political brinkmanship, anger and bitterness fill the air, and in the end we all lose.

That is not what the framers of the Constitution had in mind when they completed their work. Today our national legislature seems devoid of statesmen. Members of Congress and Senators all seem more interested in being re-elected rather than demonstrating courage in facing the new world that has emerged in 2011. A majority of nations are now facing the same problems we are. Americans must realize that the future will not see a return to manufacturing and construction as it was before. Technology is moving rapidly toward new ways of doing business. Our nation has an ever increasing percentage of older people, requiring major changes in the way our government deals with entitlements. But none of the problems brought on by these changes will be solved if our leaders fail to achieve compromise. If they do not, then we all lose.

KEN GREEN

Coeur d'Alene