How about a few words about Congress?  Here is something we can all agree on when it comes to topics.  Few of us like how the current system works. Liberals and conservatives see eye to eye on this even if they don't like it.  But we opted for a republic approach to democracy many years ago so we live with it.  You can always blame our Founding Fathers for developing such a system.  Their differences were many times as profound as ours today.  Yet the great thing about our country is how it just keeps plugging away over the years.  Much of this is due to our approach to government.  Just don't let the other side know that.

It took over a year for our leaders to decide not to go over the proverbial "fiscal cliff."  Deadlines tend to make even the messiest groups get together.  There was first the delay waiting to see who would win the presidential election.  Neither side wanted to fully commit until after that.  Why should you negotiate when your side may win the White House?  Another factor was waiting for the congressional elections to end.  One side could grow stronger which would let the lines be drawn deeper.  None of the elections really solved anything so it was time to figure something out. 

Here is where things really get messy.  You know the bill that passed tonight must have some good stuff the way radicals on either side are reacting.  Both liberals and conservatives are screaming about how bad this legislation is.  I cannot say that my political approach is content with the outcome but it is better than the alternative.  Leaders of both parties had to give on issues important to them.  It was not a good night for the purists of any kind.  Governing is seldom a pure art.  It is messy and full of choices you may not wish to make.  You win some and you lose some.  Being a leader who cannot see beyond yourself will lead to gridlock. 

Some talk about the art of compromise as being significant.  Governing is less about compromise than it is cooperation.  Lyndon Johnson is often portrayed as a great compromising leader.  Reality is he knew how to cooperate in the process to get what he wanted.  He would get what he desired while you got a little something in return.  That may sound awful but the system worked then far more than now.  Today is a time where our elected leaders miss that idea.  Now it is also true that holding to core principles is vital.  Do not think those are unimportant.  Just be sure that there will be occasions when the problem will perhaps outweigh the principle.  This is not right or wrong.  It is what it is.

There is really no other point to this post.  These are just my musings on politics and the events of recent days.  I do not expect agreement on any of this.  I know better when it comes to politics!

Bro. Trey