Position in Government; Compromise and Failure

[ThomWV]

My Congressman is a Democrat. Both of my Senators are Democrats. My President is a Democrat.

When my Congressman cast his vote on the many and varied issues that come to the floor of the House of Representatives I know that some, in fact many, of them will have no effect on me or anyone else in this state and that his vote on those issues will be used as a bargaining chip as compromises are made and legislation is produced. I know what he has promised to his constituents but I accept that he is one of many and in the house it is raw vote count with the majority that prevails. That puts my Congressman in the position where he must compromise on some issues to win on others and that what legislation emerges is the result of compromises made by him and hundreds of other Representatives. It is the nature of the House of Representatives that laws that pass out out of the House reflect a melting of ideas that are the majority opinion.

My Senators have more power than my Congressman but they too are pawns of compromise. The rules of the Senate protect the minority position and are the sole mechanism of Government to do so. It is that protection that demands compromise of position between members of the Senate on virtually all legislation that comes to a vote because in the end all legislation that emerges from the Senate, much like the House, is a reflection of the will of the majority.

The position of the President is unique and more important the President has the power of Veto. He alone can reject in total any legislation which does not meet his position. The President alone can remain inflexible in his demands. Unlike Representatives and Senators he has no demand of compromise placed on him. In fact unlike Representatives and Senators, who must compromise to be effective, the President must be the one person in Government who will not compromise. Only in giving up his position, bowing to compromise, does he fail.

[OHdem10]

1. This may sound cynical, (I, of course do not know your Congressment)

but my observation is for many the Democrats concede rather
than Compromise.

The GOP set up their positions and say My way or the Highway.
They are not even in power and yet they are succeeding.

With the Health Insurance Reform as an example.

The Republicans started early with:
We need Tort Reform. We need to ban Pre-Existing Condition
We need Portablity( whatever this means) lower cos
We will not accept Public Option.

What is the narrative yesterday, today and tomorrow on TV(where
Americans get their news)

The narrative is Obama will drop the public option.

In other words Democrats accept the Republican Bill.

Compromise use to mean each side gives up something of equal
weight and value. The GOP never compromise and they will
tell you as they tell their constituents. We cannot compromise.

Why do call our system a two party system??? It is a one
party system. GOP Rule