Compromising Positions

JACK
I keep hearing about “today’s dirty politics”. I hate to disillusion anybody, but dirty politics is not an invention of the 21st century. It’s been spreading evil since the American Revolution. Instead of emotional accusations, I believe we should start thinking of real solutions. Instead of telling the opposition how wrong they are, let’s present programs and show how right they can be. Why can’t we treat our choices like a cafeteria, take whatever we want from whatever section without prejudging, and if we have any complaints we should put forward our own ideas of how these inequities can be resolved?

It sounds funny coming from a card-carrying capitalist, but I do believe that a great deal of our problems come as a result of excessive greed. When I see a movement developing I have a habit of looking for the money. Who is backing it, and what are their self-centered reasons? An example is the present healthcare controversy. Take a look at who is backing the movement against reform. It seems so foolish if I were in a ship heading for an iceberg, I would sure try to change course. The universal truth is that doing the same thing over and over again can only lead to the same conclusion. I am appalled at the conservatives in Congress who have been in control for more than eight years and the White House that was in power for eight years. Suddenly we get a bright, new president and within a couple of months of his taking office, everything bad that has happened from the bank failures to the million dollar bonuses, suddenly they belong to the guy that just arrived on the scene. Then in a totally serious voice they say that new ideas will destroy the country. It reminds me of the truck driver who shouted at the pedestrian that he almost hit, “why didn’t you watch where you were going” and the pedestrian said, “why, are you coming back?” There are no simple solutions, but I have to believe that it’s not by doing the same thing all over again.

HILLARY
I am trying to be patient. I’m trying to ignore the frightening rhetoric that has taken over our political discourse in this country. I’m trying to accept that a decent plan that helps a lot of people is better than no plan, even if it’s not what I thought I was voting for. I am trying not to get disillusioned by our current leadership, but it’s hard. I had expectations for change greater that what I have seen thus far, and I fear what seems to be a growing divide within our citizenry, which doesn’t seem interested in speaking to one another reasonably.

JACK
What is your specific problem with what the Obama Administration has or hasn’t done?

HILLARY
I thought the Administration would have put forth a plan for healthcare similar to the idea of Medicare for all. I thought we’d be talking about greater troop reduction in Iraq. I thought the White House would have made serious headway toward repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I thought Sonya Sotomayor was more moderate then a Democratic president ought to have considered when replacing Souter.

JACK
I can’t and would not make any excuse for the administration keeping a campaign pledge that helped him get elected. Several factors are involved. I would assume that there is a vast difference in the information received by a candidate as opposed to when he becomes President. Also, there are many factors involved in trying to execute a plan that would become more evident when the President is in office and has access to ALL of the information. There is also one more extremely important condition. It has been approximately a year since the campaign and the promises that were made. Events over the past 12 months have changed and would help to lead to different solutions. The situation in the Middle East certainly is volatile and at no time does it remain constant. The President must deal with the situation that exists now, not what he thought our position was one year ago. I feel strongly that President Obama should be given the time to prove his efficiency and to justify any changes he makes.

HILLARY
I am willing to accept that in war that are "realities on the ground" that I don't fully understand. I am being asked to accept that premise and compromise on my positions on Iraq, Afghanistan, healthcare, FISA, environmental policy, etc. I will not compromise, however, on my position regarding the rights of same-sex couples. These are our neighbors and our friends, and they need to be recognized openly by the state as contributing citizens of our society with full rights now.

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