Why all the partisan bickering

[JDogger]

Are you calling me an Archie or a Jughead??

No. I'll leave it for you to define your own comicbook alter-ego

[Blackstone]

On ther contrary.

Greed occures because principles are consistantly broken without much consenquence.

Pete

Most greedy people don't have a lot of principles. And, if you are greedy, and in a position of power, you find ways to avoid consequences.

[zeus3925]

Sarge

But since my grand father,father or I cant remember this country ever being a socialistic country or a marxist country ,,then I have to say it was our principles that were compromised,,, if they werent outr budget would be in the black.

If we were becoming a very conservative country then I would say that the liberal doctrine has been compromised.

Pete

I suspect we are using "compromise" in different shades of the word. I use it as achieving a common agreement among initially opposing viewpoints.

Unfortunately, it is one of those words in the English language that has divergent meanings. I sense that you use it in the sense that something has lost its potency (eg. Secrecy has been compromised.) Am I correct?

[road kill]

I suspect we are using "compromise" in different shades of the word. I use it as achieving a common agreement among initially opposing viewpoints.

Unfortunately, it is one of those words in the English language that has divergent meanings. I sense that you use it in the sense that something has lost its potency (eg. Secrecy has been compromised.) Am I correct?

CONSENSUS!!

That's what it used to be.

[zeus3925]

CONSENSUS!!

That's what it used to be.

That's the flavor I'm looking for.

[YardleyLabs]

I actually think consensus is an unrealistic basis for governing and definitely undesirable. It hardly works in governing a church, and never works for a country. The form of compromise that I think can permit people who disagree vehemently on many issues to work effectively together consists of several crucial elements:

• Recognition of a fundamental common interest. Just as the success of a marriage depends more on a commitment to make it work than it does on the love of the moment, the success of a country is founded on acceptance of equal rights of citizenship (none of us is more American than the other), a commitment to the democratic process, and a recognition that patritotic allegiance does not demand agreement.
• A willingness to form tactical alliances on issues without expecting or requiring ideological agreement on reasons. These alliances may take the form of agreement on an action (build a dam) for different reasons (you want a recreational area, I want flood control), or horse trading in which I support your cause in return for your support of mine.
• Honest brokers: People with divergent objectives can work together as long as each trusts the other to fulfill their part of a bargain. You do not need to like your bargaining partners; you do need to trust them. In turn, you must be trustworthy yourself even when it is not in your short term interest.
• Do not demonize opponents that you can't kill: When you demonize your opponents, you forget the common ground that binds you and make it impossible for your opponent to ever trust you as an honest broker.

[road kill]

Compromise; 1 a : settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b : something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things

Consesnsus; 1 a : general agreement : unanimity <the consensus of their opinion, based on reports…from the border — John Hersey> b : the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned <the consensus was to go ahead>

You be the judge.
By definition, which do you prefer?

[zeus3925]

Compromise; 1 a : settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b : something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things

Consesnsus; 1 a : general agreement : unanimity <the consensus of their opinion, based on reports…from the border — John Hersey> b : the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned <the consensus was to go ahead>

You be the judge.
By definition, which do you prefer?

Thanks, Roadkill. I guess I had the first definition of compromise in mind.

[Bruce MacPherson]

Matt,

I would define greed as an excessive desire to acquire or possess more, especially more material wealth, than one needs or deserves, or an insatiable desire for wealth.

I love this definition. Now explain to me how one comes to know if you have acquired more wealth than you need or deserve?

[zeus3925]

I love this definition. Now explain to me how one comes to know if you have acquired more wealth than you need or deserve?

You never do. It becomes a game of racking up a score.