Commentary underestimates value and difficulty of compromise

August 5, 2011 — As an independent, I can only see your observations regarding Obama as “caving in” as placing you to the far left.

Negotiations require compromise. In the American system, nobody gets exactly what he or she wants.

I am not happy with the Tea Party Terrorists. I am not happy with a heartless GOP, which says that it stands for “family values” but operates in ways that take from the poor to give to the rich. I am not happy with entrenched progressives who are unwilling to discuss Medicare and Social Security tweaks. I am unhappy with a mass media that leaves the public uninformed and, in so doing, leaves them open to influence from those who wish to do them harm or mislead them.

None of what is happening today makes any of us happy but at least the President understands that if you play a game to win or lose there is only a 50 percent chance you will be happy with the outcome of the game and, if you negotiate and compromise, all is not lost.

— Gail Talbot (Huntley, Illinois)