Compromise: noun: An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.
So the horrible Obamabots want nothing but tax increases and the solid True American Republicans demand nothing but government spending cuts - right?
a compromise solution to most rational beings would seem to include some tax increases and some spending cuts but with an overall increase in government revenues to start decreasing the deficit.
Why is the President's proposal of cuts and tax increases not seen as a compromise and in fact he is constantly castigated for failing to compromise. But how is he to compromise with a faction that demands he accede to their "cuts only" position?
Meeting way over on the right is not compromising
Because you know damn well that not all things are viewed equally by either side....
The Presidents side wants to increase revenue. So what if the Republicans came out and provided "revenue" increases, either through across the board tax increases or through the removal of deduction options? Would Democrats suggest that was "compromising" on the part of the Republicans and get on board? Or would they suggest it's not compromising and come up with reasons to argue against it?
Similarly the Republican side wants to decrease revenue. So what if the Democrats came out and said they'd cut government spending by 25%, with 80% of that cut all coming from Defense? Would that be honestly attempting to "compromise" or an attempt Republicans should realistically accept in representing their constituents?
Yes, in theory you want to say that "compromies" just means "Doing some revenue raisers and some spending cuts"...but that's a lot more simplistic than you can get when it comes into reality.
For example, the President's plan that was put forth was largely back loaded in terms of cuts while front loaded in terms of revenue increases...meaning that any given president or congress (or even himself) could undo his spending cut plans long before they occur, but the revenue increases would already be in place. It took into account saving sfrom things that would occur REGARDLESS if a "deal" was reached, such as troops drawing down in Iraq and in Afghanistan. It was an attempt to APPEAR to compromise with what the Republicans wanted, but was not an honest one.
On the flip side. The Republicans put forth a plan that would raise revenues, in part through increasing the effective tax rates of many people. However, many of the various instances in their tax plan would have impacted the middle class and lower classes in a significant way. It was an attempt to APPEAR to compromise with what hte Democrats wanted, but was not an honest one.
Both attempts to "compromise" ultimately failed because they simply attempted to address the macro notions of the other side on the most basic level while basically ignoring the micro details of what the other side was actually trying for and wanting.
