"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:nARXc.246074$eM2.18242@attbi_s51...
Compromise can't really happen until we return to a time before political
correctness made it wrong to call someone "crippled" but made it okay to
vocally and publicly insult someone for what they believe.

Fortunately, most "political correctness" is a silly diversion and is doomed
to the annals of history. I hope. You are right about the insulting - that
pretty much closes the door on understanding and compromise.

Compromise won't happen until we return to the days when public officials
had a sense of decorum, and were discreet about their personal lives.

I think they are discreet as they ever were, it's just that now the other
side blows it out of proportion (ok, maybe bad choice of words). I actually
really don't care if some politician has an affair. But I do care when
those on the other side of the political fence make enough of it to disrupt
the workings of government. Many people we vote into power, on both sides,
have had all sorts of trysts while in office, for hundreds of years. Maybe
it has something to do with the power, but let's try not to let something
like that interfere with their job!

Compromise won't ever happen until both sides of the aisle stop calling
the
other side names, and until they refrain from viewing the other side as
less
intelligent.

Very true. The reason that longstanding disputes have been around so long
is that both sides have valid arguments.

No one communicates anymore. No one listens anymore. Even here, in this
most casual of forums, participants resort to the basest language and
vilest
implications, simple because the other side won't bend to their way of
viewing the world.

Oh, some get crazy and some don't. Usual mix, different strokes for
different folks. Debating and arguing points takes a lot of thought and
energy and sometimes there is some resentment when the other side doesn't
just cave right in (yeah, like that's realistic).

It's really just two camps, hunkered down in trenches, lobbing hand
grenades
over the wire. Occasionally blood is drawn, but nothing more takes place.
No peace is declared, no retreat sounded.

Well, you're trying to do a little bit.

Sadly, I don't think this is going to change soon, as the moral issues
dividing the two parties are so stark.

I don't agree. I see a lot of willingness of certain people to try, and to
try to find common ground, of which there is plenty. We all have much more
in common than not. To begin with, we all share a common love so we're like
some sort of family. And, like most families, we are unfortunately somewhat
disfunctional, but still a family...

Peter