# How Compromise Works **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 5, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029 "2019-02-05T21:40:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/61 "2019-02-07T19:07:23Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > You are so full of shit. > [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Completely full of shit. This is a warning for personal insults. If you believe another poster is incorrect, or has not presented information accurately, please feel free to offer correction. Do not accuse them of being full of shit. If you feel you must, the Pit is right around the corner. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/62 "2019-02-07T19:21:53Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I don’t see how any bill passes ever with that threshold. > > Unless there is some geologic scale shift in American politics coming that doesn’t seem on the horizon I think 2 things would happen if that were the threshold. 1.There would be a shift in the way politics is now approached. 2. Less things would pass ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/63 "2019-02-07T21:57:11Z")
I believe/hope/pray a shift may come when things get so shitty GOP voters see what two decades of listening to Ann Coulter and her ilk have gotten them. (I think the next two years might just do it.) I’m not saying they’ll all start voting Dem. But maybe they’ll start expecting (or even demanding) that their representatives listen to and even, gulp, compromise with Dems, instead of doing everything they can to demonize, obfuscate and obstruct. Until that starts to happen, you can’t expect Pelosi & Co. to make the first moves toward compromise with Trump. The high road needs to be a two-way street. ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/64 "2019-02-08T14:01:21Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Every argument I see on this board full of really intelligent people ends up like this: > > Argument > “your side does it too” > “Oh but not nearly to the degree your side does” > > Every single issue. > > Old, Stale. > > Eventually people are going to agree with me and make it so compromise for any healthy bill MUST be reached. Say 70% of both the house and the senate. > > Then and ONLY then will compromise be back on the table. This is nonsense. The Republicans made it very clear that their policy was to never compromise with Obama. And Republican voters proceeded to vote out any lawmaker who was not ideologically extreme enough. Zero-sum Republican politics have dominated the past decade of American politics. This has never been clearer than after they spent the better part of a decade obstructing and bitching about Obamacare and when they finally got the chance to fix and replace it they had NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. I’m utterly astonished anyone could still vote Republican after watching their stupidity implode like that. This is all very well documented and it is all extremely one-sided. There is no argument on this point. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/65 "2019-02-08T15:16:30Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Is there any chance that Alonzo and Bree can reach a compromise? Sure, but it requires Alonzo get a brain transplant. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/66 "2019-02-08T15:35:45Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Sure, but it requires Alonzo get a brain transplant. I assume you’re talking about a voluntary brain transplant. Which I doubt that Alonzo would agree to. So that would indicate that no compromise is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/67 "2019-02-08T16:36:54Z")
Then I hope you enjoy your upcoming shutdown and all the shutdowns to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/68 "2019-02-08T17:24:52Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I assume you’re talking about a voluntary brain transplant. Which I doubt that Alonzo would agree to. So that would indicate that no compromise is possible. The compromise isn’t, “I’ll do something if you get a brain transplant.” The compromise is something else–but we know Alonso’s too much of an imbecile to do it short of a brain transplant. IOW, it’s pointing out that compromising with someone who is neither honest nor interested in compromising is impossible. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/69 "2019-02-08T20:04:42Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Elected Democrats made it very clear that they would resist and not compromise with Republicans. You can chose to ignore that. > > Good government is based on the ability, and willingness, of elected officials to reach a compromise. And by that I mean actually reaching a working compromise. Not making some promise to reach a compromise while having no intentions of actually compromising. The Republicans stole a Supreme Court judge appointment from Obama and now you expect civility and compromise? Lots of luck. When the Dems get full power back (and that’s a given) I hope they metaphorically tar and feather every last Republican rat in Congress that kowtowed to Mitch McCuckold and Paul Ryan. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/70 "2019-02-08T20:59:42Z")
> [@JB99](#): > > Then Bree gives him the keys to the car, and Alonso suddenly decides he’s good with pizza after all. But he calls it marinara flatbread with cheese so that he can still call Bree evil for suggesting Pizza. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/71 "2019-02-08T23:20:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > IOW, it’s pointing out that compromising with someone who is neither honest nor interested in compromising is impossible. (post shortened) Now we’ve reached a point where neither side is willing to compromise. And according to your theory, it’s for the same reasons. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/72 "2019-02-08T23:21:49Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > The Republicans stole a Supreme Court judge appointment from Obama and now you expect civility and compromise? Lots of luck. When the Dems get full power back (and that’s a given) I hope they metaphorically tar and feather every last Republican rat in Congress that kowtowed to Mitch McCuckold and Paul Ryan. You’re justifying your sides unwillingness to compromise. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/73 "2019-02-09T01:04:11Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > You’re justifying your sides unwillingness to compromise. Do you have a compromise in mind that is free of anything counterproductive, wasteful and/or stupid? Hint - a border wall is all three. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/74 "2019-02-09T11:35:09Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > YOU can send him a letter. YOU can ask either of YOUR two Senators to contact the Minority Leader on YOUR behalf. YOU can visit the Capital and talk to him in person. Or YOU can ask someone else to do it for YOU. Whichever is easier for YOU to perform. > > In 2017, elected Democrats made it abundantly clear that they were going to “resist” everything, and anything, the majority party proposed. Are you now suggesting that they didn’t do that? Yup, send a latter. An intern will read it, give a weak smile, and then pick out a suitable form letter with preprinted signature and personalized greeting. You’ve made your point, but nobody cares or does anything. But that’s politics. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/75 "2019-02-12T03:14:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Do you have a compromise in mind that is free of anything counterproductive, wasteful and/or stupid? > > Hint - a border wall is all three. Your statement indicates an unwillingness to compromise. Personally, I want employers who hire illegal aliens to be fined, and fined again, until they finally stop hiring illegal aliens. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029/76 "2019-02-12T15:01:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Bree previously had a deal of pizza-and-tofu alternating nights, and Alonso agreed to follow it before backing out at the last minute and declaring no tofu, only pizza. Well, can you blame him? Tofu is pretty awful stuff… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-compromise-works/829029.md?page=3)