Compromise and Universal Truths

Introductory political science classes (usually taught by liberals) teach that the ABC’s of American politics are Argue, Bargain and Compromise.

The theory is that no one has sole access to the truth and as long as there is a compromise then everyone can have “half a loaf.”

When the issues in dispute are such things as tariff rates, “guns vs. butter,” or funding infrastructure, this attempt at consensus works fairly well.

But there are many times in the human experience that the issues do not lend themselves to compromise.
The reality is that there are such things as “Universal Truths,” morality and sin. When a political party attempts to deny such truth, the ABC’s don’t work. The issue of slavery is our most blatant example in history.

Now that the Democratic Party is the party that promotes what Christians would consider immoral behavior, it seems that the Republicans have become the party that dare not disagree.

Whenever a Republican or someone speaks out against “sinful” or reprehensible acts or policies, they are accused of hate crimes, bigotry or worse.

It is undeniable that this nation was founded upon Judeo-Christian principles. The concept of human rights being bestowed by the Creator is exclusive to Judeo-Christian teachings. And compromising Christian principles is a “sin” and therefore unacceptable.

It’s time that members of our political class, those who understand, appreciate and participate in political activities, address the problems being caused by an unwillingness to engage in serious debate with the extreme thinking to be found within some members of both the left and the right.

By being overly deferential, we “centrists,” both liberal and conservative, are abrogating our responsibility to temper our more vitriolic brethren.

Just because a position is held with intensity and force, it is not necessarily correct. Nor is a position necessarily correct because it is pronounced that “God intended it so.”

Yes, both major parties wish to be considered as having a “large tent” that will accommodate a wide range of social and political thought, but the Republican Party, both locally and nationally, seems to have largely capitulated to its more extremist elements. Many good, thoughtful candidates are being targeted at the primary level, and defeated, by activists who might better be described as “hired guns” than higher thinkers.

If we allow friends and colleagues to present clearly invalid and outlandish arguments, without challenge, we are doing our community and our country a disservice.

We are being complicit with the obstructionists who are holding us hostage to their misguided shortsightedness. It’s time for leadership to speak up, to be heard and to lead.