“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” Japanese proverb
We live in a very conflicted world. Disputes abound everywhere, and conflict resolutions are made more difficult by the childish intransigence of the parties involved.
Hardliners (although often a minority) are imposing unrealistic conditions on their opponents, and vow to fight to the death to get satisfaction.
But unless you are Genghis Khan (or maybe Donald Trump) nobody can have his cake and eat it too. Maybe temporarily… but it won’t last.
Compromise is an essential ingredient of diplomacy.
A compromise is a middle state between conflicting opinions or actions reached by mutual concession or modification.
Compromising by the way never meant capitulating.
Contrarily to what extremists are claiming, compromise is not a dirty word. It is a clean, grownup word.
Has anybody heard this word on the lips of a congressman lately?
A compromise is a sensible way to avoid prolonged, often-bloody conflicts.
Politicians need to be pragmatic, dealing with issues sensibly and realistically. Unfortunately, many so-called leaders are egged on by their most virulent followers and pressured to stick to ridiculous, antiquated dogmas.
What absolutely, completely perverts politics is money. A politician gets addicted to all the perks accorded to his office and will do almost anything to be reelected.
Where else could they get such a plum job?
To be honest and vote for the public good instead of following the party’s directives, politicians should serve a single term, two at most.
Knowing that it is their only shot at doing something meaningful, they might be tempted to make more enlightened decisions and (Heavens to Betsy) compromise with the opposition to break some logjams and achieve some results.
Lifelong politicians are the bane of politics.
Crop rotation might be the answer.
“Crop rotation is used to control pests and diseases that can become established in the soil (political system) over time.”
Short of using pesticides, this is what we need to (try to) clean politics.
Our president cannot be reelected a third time. Why shouldn’t political hacks be subjected to the same rule?
Dreaming never hurt anyone…
Alain