Today in Minnesota, DFL Governor Mark Dayton and Republican House Leaders continue to disagree about a state budget. Now, this is no family dining budget disagreement. It's not like choosing McDonald's versus Olive Garden. We're talking about $1.8 billion of disagreement.
Earlier this year, democratic legislators in Indiana and Wisconsin fled to Illinois to stall legislative proceedings, again, over disagreements. Even the federal government threatened a shutdown in early April when Congress and the Administration could not agree.
These sort of political quarrels happen quite frequently, but the media thrives on such occasions as if doomsday is coming (which ironically did come and go in May). Why does the media love this? Because it's a portrayal of elementary school.
When a state or the federal government threaten a shutdown due to budget disparities, the media provides transparency, which is occasionally useful. What we see, as a result, is a playground, usually called a capitol building, in which young (very old) children (legislators) are fighting over who gets to play with the kickball. They spend the whole recess time fighting over the ball and neither one gets to play.
What if they compromised to share the kickball? The common retort to such a proposal: "I can't compromise my ideology." However, contrary to popular belief, to compromise does not mean to abandon your beliefs and by some strange means inherit the beliefs of your 'enemies.' Rather, it means that you agree to disagree, to live in peace, to recognize the beliefs of others while steadfastly living your own beliefs and being humble enough to admit that you're not the Almighty Creator.
Quite frequently, in terms of one's religious beliefs, it is said that one must walk on egg shells when working and partnering with persons of other beliefs because you do not want to 'compromise' your beliefs (usually rooted in the fear; perhaps the fear that you may actually be converted?) However, human to human, we must compromise in order to live in peace, in order to achieve any sort of social progress.
The alternative is the recess showdown portrayed by Democrats and Republicans; nothing gets done and all of a sudden recess time is over and we're out of time to make a difference. The same is true of our short lives.
If a government shutdown teaches us anything, it teaches us that if we haphazardly cling to our identity titles, there is simply idleness. Perhaps if we lived our identities by practicing love, compassion and peace, not only would we pass budgets, but we'd change lives for eternity.
Compromise with others; steadfastly live your beliefs.
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