I think compromise is the only thing that is ultimately "good for America" to be honest. We live in a collective free society, not our own personal Utopia. Issues can't be resolved to the complete satisfaction of one group while ignoring all others, that's not reality, that's not practical. In order to resolve issues, both sides have to be willing to set aside partisan differences, and discuss legitimate areas of compromise which can usually be found with any issue. You immediately demand to know what I am willing to compromise on, and I would say, what are you willing to compromise on? Because we first have to find something we are both willing to do that with, before this subject becomes relevant.
I have always been the type of person who can at least see both sides of an issue. Not that I can find validity in the argument, but I can see how the argument could be made, in many cases. I also realize we live in a collective society, and some might call me a 'collectivist' but I kind of believe that pertinent issues should be settled to the satisfaction of the collective in most cases. In other words, issues like abortion and gay marriage, should at least be up to the voters of a particular state, and I can live with whatever they decide. To me, that is a political compromise, I am not forcing you to accept my viewpoint, I am not trying to cram my way down your throat. I have my opinion, I am free to lobby for my opinion, but at the end of the day, I am satisfied with the result of the ballot box.
Several times, I have created threads to discuss solving huge social problems and bridge the gaping divide between left and right on certain issues. Like Gay Marriage... While I don't support Gay Marriage, I am willing to accept government altering its role in 'marriage' altogether, and adopting a more modernized 'civil union' approach for couples. This would give gay couples all the same benefits of traditional married couples, and it wouldn't trample religious customs and tradition. In fact, it would actually un-entangle government from 'marriage' completely, as it should have been all along. Abortion is another hot-button issue I have proposed a compromise on. I am pro-life, but I personally believe there are some instances where abortion is an appropriate option. All I have asked for, is an honest debate over when it's appropriate to end a human life, but the other side is not willing to even admit it's a human life.
Just as when two people seek marriage counseling, it isn't going to do any good for one person to change and the other to believe they don't need to change. That doesn't work. If only one side is willing to compromise, there can be no reconciliation. Our problems and issues are not so big that we can't settle them, we have simply become so vitriolic, and polarized, we can't envision how we get there.
