Sustainability

That's the big word these days.  When it is used, it is usually about the natural environment.  But what about the political environment?  Shouldn't there be a sustainability movement in politics?

If our politics aren't sustainable, it means instability and collapse some time down the road.  Wouldn't it be a good idea to find a way to make politics sustainable so as to avoid such a pitfall?  What could be a modus vivendi between the opposing factions?

Naturally, that means compromise.  But how to compromise when those who could compromise won't?

You could ask two simple questions:

1. What are you willing to give up?
2. What are you aiming to get?

If you are planning to get everything you want without giving up anything, that's not compromise.

The Republicans want limits on entitlements.  The Democrats want higher taxes on the rich.  Neither seems to want to give up anything for these goals.

Everybody has a price, it has been said.  What is your price?  That question must be answered or else no movement will be possible.

I know why the Democrats won't move.  The reason they won't move is that in order to get what they want, they would have to give up a lot more in spending than what they are demanding in taxes.  If you raise taxes by a half trillion per year, this won't move the spending side all that much.  The spending side will have to move twice as much as the tax side in order to balance the budget and the Democrats will never agree to that.

For better or worse, the country has to make a choice.  One party will have to dominate in order to get movement because compromise isn't possible.  The gap is too wide.  Because of that, the status quo isn't sustainable.  Something has to give.  Divided government isn't sustainable.