CONGRATULATIONS, IT’S A COMPROMISE!
Democracy requires compromise, even when you are 100 percent right. That was Obama’s view and the founders of this country. The deal worked out in Congress over Trump’s border wall is something rare but vital in DC, a compromise.
The bipartisan deal gives Trump money for only 55 miles of fences compared to the 200 miles he wanted.
Without compromise:
- Progress happens only if one side has overwhelming numbers . . . as we’ve seen when only Senate Republicans confirm judges and cabinet members.
- This one-sided government produces cynicism and distrust of government.
- If both sides refuse to compromise, they produce only gridlock.
This is why this wall compromise is so important. It isn’t the end of divided government, but it is a pathway to better, united government.
The 17 lawmakers who worked out the deal were driven by an essential component for compromise, a common goal: To avoid another shutdown.
Although Trump was consulted throughout the negotiations, he now says he’s not happy with the bipartisan deal.
We must show our support, not only for this deal but, more importantly, for reaching a compromise.
Call your Members of Congress, who must now approve the deal, and voice your support today.
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)
“My name is [–] and I’m constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to say I strongly support the bipartisan deal Congress worked out about the border wall.
We must accept that people of good will can have different views. Congress’s role is to reach agreement across party lines, or else we continue with gridlock and hate the other side.
I urge you vote for the bipartisan border wall deal. Thank you.”
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)
“My name is [–] and I’m constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to say I strongly support the bipartisan deal Congress worked out about the border wall.
We must accept that people of good will can have different views. Congress’s role is to reach agreement across party lines, or else we continue with gridlock and hate the other side.
I urge you vote for the bipartisan border wall deal. Thank you.”
CALL Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Call Greg Walden (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
SOURCES:
BBC News, February 12, 2019: “US border security deal reached to avert new shutdown” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47207411
CNN, Feb 12, 2019: “What needs to happen now to avert a government shutdown.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/12/politics/shutdown-deal-congress-trump-next-steps/index.html
Washington Post, Feb. 12, 2019: “With new border deal, Republicans are trying to negotiate Trump’s surrender” https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/12/with-new-border-deal-republicans-are-trying-negotiate-trumps-surrender/?utm_term=.89c59d39b52a
Gallup, Oct. 10, 2018: “Bringing About More Compromise in Congress” https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/243566/bringing-compromise-congress.aspx
Harvard Magazine, July-August 2012: “The Case for Compromise” https://harvardmagazine.com/2012/07/the-case-for-compromise
Daedalus Spring 2013: “Valuing Compromise for the Common Good” https://www.amacad.org/publication/valuing-compromise-common-good
Cambridge University Press, 2010 “The Mindsets of Political Compromise” https://president.upenn.edu/meet-president/mindsets-political-compromise