What This Country Needs Are More Patriots: A Moment With Bill Reflection

You are so right. How can we have deferent parties and get along? Compromise is of the essence, and yes, we can all sit down together and find a solution. We did it in the past, and we can do it now. Differences are meant to be the melting pot, not something that is bad. We learn from each other, then take those new ideas and create more. Don't say WHY, say WHY NOT!

A real patriot would defy the current definition. Its not the flag that flies anymore or honoring decades of false wars and phony history to empower an oligarchy. Its truly not agreeing with our current politicians or a Republic that no longer cares about people. Our nation is corrupt to the bone and the only true patriots are meek powerless and ordinary people who pay a price every day to keep the wealthiest people in power. There is nothing wrong with the system if you work for nothing, pay taxes and complain about the tread mill until they profit from your death. A true Patriot lost any reason to care if the whole system collapsed tomorrow. If anything perhaps it would be a better chance at something better.

Every time I read your hubs on this subject, I find that they apply precisely to this country too. We do have a system that encompasses more than two parties but we still have the same problems and, essentially, it does boil down to the main two parties. Each one always blames the other and each one vows to do things better. However, they never do! Funny none of them has noticed that yet but then they're too busy concentrating on their own interests, how much money and power they can gain, how many fingers in how many pies.

In fact, this must happen all over the world, which makes me think that it must be human nature - how do we deal with that? As you say, one by one, we make a difference, we voice our opinions and we vote for compromise, for common sense, for someone who's kind and reasonable and unselfish - hang on, I don't know any politicians who have those qualities! So we have to change the system I guess. One day, maybe, just maybe.....

You always make us think, bill.

Signing off now after a long, busy day! Ann

Bill my friend , now I'm laughing outloud too, because you made me to. It took me two days fighting this ' verisimilitude ', searching my most favorite pages where a compromise has been at least partially meaningful. ( No success ) As frustration persistently pressured upon my meninges, the only my choice to maintain health and sanity, was to state as it is, "compromise sucks"- anticipating this would be my last comment ever, ( they will throw me out ). As I was going against the prevailing current of influence compromising has embraced controlling over most of the societies affairs except one. Now it's sealed fact in my mind ' never resist that small voice telling you to act in favor of 'betterness'. . . Thanks for your time and double helping my wings...

America has such a high influx of immigrants and visiors, our values and beliefs are becoming vague due our compromise with them. I love your definition: True patriots love, support and defend their country while working for individual rights. It is our goal, to make life better for all.

Hello Bill.

A great article, you've done as usually a fantastic job. ( Nevertheless )- please my next point isn't argumentative, rather a product of long-observed process of thoughts .

" We all are ' patriots ' - interpretation vary detrimental by compromis"-(mmilec). Reinforcing J.F. Kennedy's " let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or I'll, that we shall pay any price..." - naturally conclusion rings in my mind - " let it be known, we will not compromise"- and they murdered him.

Let's just look over what " compromise " is producing in one country (perhaps in many parts of the world ?): looking at each other eyes , a one man to another man a"husband is wife, wife is husband", or two women, - woman to another woman a "wife is husband and a husband is wife"- teaching little children under educational provision of what? a new morality or what? - My apology, running out of words ( compromise sucks).

Voted up, useful , interesting.

Wishing you very nice rest of te Sunday, my friend.

Amen!!! Stop playing the blame game and the finger pointing and pull together. If each one of us cared more, what a different place this would be today.

And it really is all about us, isn't it? Washington won't fix anything. They are puppets as you so clearly point out.

I am basically Pollyanna as you must know from my writings but I am also not blind. I know WE need to help fix what is broken in our country. What disturbs me so much is that there seems to be a sense of apathy..".throw my hands u and b**** and complain...but don't ask ME to do anything."

We all, as a nation, need to get a clue

Keep on, bill....your voice is loud and strong and maybe if the bells keep clanging enough folks will listen that we can begin to turn things around.

Angels are once again on the way Love hugs and blessings to all. ps

Constantly politicians bandy about the word "bipartisan"... yet they cannot (both parties) support anything together. Compromise is certainly the name of the game. It is in their mouth but not their hearts and head.

George Washington was a President without a party...is there something to be learned there? A true patriot interested in our country. Is there another George Washington out there?

Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.

Unfortunately, the trouble with compromise is that it is a zero sum game and as such it behooves each side to start from a more extreme position. Too many people try to shove their belief systems onto others. I hate politics with a passion anymore.

All this I agree with when the evidence is so very clear.

You hit the nail on the head about our elections being all about the corporations and lobbyists. I am fearful that will never change.

I believe the tension from the right and the left comes from each holding a different view of the Federal Government's powers and boundaries. State vs. Federal Power, Regulation vs. Anti-regulation, Social Programs vs. Individual Responsibility. We have two sides that want polar opposites. They each have their own version of America.

I am a Patriot for the Constitution, for the separation of government powers, the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, protection from unreasonable searches, and the right to a fair trial. Those I will fight to defend, without compromise. Those values are what makes America different from other countries. We may be at different places on the spectrum, but we are batting for the same team.

I like your line, "We could find a way to compromise because we all want what is best for our country…not for corporations and not for lobbyists…what is best for our country as a whole."

You have created an informative Voted up, interesting and useful.

BillyBuc,

As a lifelong Republican, I could not agree with you more - we must not attack the various parties - it is not Democratic or Republican, it is America. Very well written - you stated it beautifully. Thank you. Voted up both useful and beautiful. Too few of us consider the word patriotic - the world is changing and we are seeing more reverence for our soldiers - long over due tributes. We are headed in the right direction - keep up the hard work and continue to guide us in the path we need to be on.

How does faith do that. She is the most pleasant. I agree," United" should be our goal. Bill we agree on the important things, just not on the details. Funny about shouting, after several years of trying to find my best friend from 4-9th grades I met someone who was still in contact with her. After a couple of weeks I got an email from her. It was completely in caps. My husband asked if it was hard to have someone yell at me a whole email. Extended love and grace. I was so proud of her. It was the first email she had ever written. You should have heard me shouting when I got that wonderful email. If you shout for joy with me that's O.K.-Judy

Well said Bill. it is the same here in Australia, we need to get rid of the "two party" system that is a constant battle with virtually no bi-partisan decisions on any policy. There has been a slight shift in recent years with the election before last being almost a dead heat between the two parties and the Government had to be decided by wooing three Independent senators to side with one major party or the other.

The last election was won mainly due to a totally one sided media push by Rupert Murdoch and News Ltd. Everyone was crying for a change of Government and they got it, now we are complaining about the new government. At least our senate is represented by a host of smaller parties(one run by the Richest man in Queensland and Mining Magnate Clive Palmer) and Independents, but that has it's good and bad points too. I only want what's best for my country too, and I agree with all the points you have raised.

Well, I will tell you, I am just me ... and we are also forgetting another word ... "United"... for we are supposedly the "United" States of America. Where did the "United" go? I am actually related on my mother's side to a true patriot, Patrick Henry ..."Give me liberty or give me death!"

Yes, I believe we are all patriots too, as I know I love my country and want only the best for it, as do you and so many others, but the bottom line is no one can agree on what the "best" for it is.

Hugs and blessings, you patriot, you!

Faith Reaper

Wish more people put their thoughts onto paper(writing). There isn't anything better for clarifying thoughts than putting thoughts into writing.

Disagreeing and compromise are not favorite words of mine. I want solutions. Compromise requires someone be unhappy. Looking for solutions focuses on the problem and various ways to fix it. Compromise requires manipulation, and I personally am tired of being manipulated. -Judy

You responded to Genna: "I am sick and tired of this ridiculous notion that there is only one way to solve a problem and middle ground does not exist. If politicians cannot solve problems then please tell me what we need them for. We will either learn this the easy way or learn it the extremely painful way."

Too bad you could not put this in bold, two-inch lettering before posting. Well said.

“Put the four of us in a room with instructions to solve one of society’s problems; the only rule of conduct is that compromise must be a part of the process; and I promise you the four of us could come to agreement.” I heartily agree.

Labeling has become de riguer; and all of the limitations associated with this index card, convenience thinking and pigeonholing of “I’m right…you’re wrong.” So many important issues have become political footballs, and reason is lost in the yelling of the crowd. It’s ridiculous, myopic and disturbing.

“The only true enemies I have, and that this country has, are ignorance, complacency and apathy. That leaves us, then, with only one remaining question: are you a true patriot who is willing to meet at the table of compromise so that real solutions can be found?” YES! This is the type of mindset (I’m uncomfortable with this word, but it’s the only one I could think of at the moment), we must espouse…each and every day. Excellent, Bill! Voted up and shared.

I agree Bill.

We are humans first and then the classification of which party we belong to...as long as humans take care of the basic needs of any human...I have no problem either :)

I'm having trouble leaving responses....my apologies to all of you...once this little problem clears up I will respond to each one of you.

"The only true enemies I have, and that this country has, are ignorance, complacency and apathy." Thanks! Bill ;-)

Very well said. Compromise is very often the only way to solve problems. I believe there are many things which can be overcome without involving politicians if we learn to compromise at a more personal level. As you said, work at the local level. If we do that the higher levels of government may never find a need to get involved.

Compromise is such a big word. We've grown into a nation with such large gaps that I wonder if there is any hope for a compromise. In my household, we rarely compromise, so I can see how a whole nation would find it difficult to compromise. The other day my husband and I were looking at color chips to decide what color to paint the house. He wanted a color on one side of the color spectrum and I wanted a color on the other side of the color spectrum. Normally, my husband gets his way because he squeaks the loudest. But as I selected colors that were closer to what he wanted, he selected colors that were closer to what I wanted. Eventually, we settled on a color that the both of us would be happy with. When I said thank you for the compromise, honey. He said, "Compromise? Those are fighting words." He was joking, of course. But the day my husband and I (who are complete opposites) can decide on a suitable paint color is the day the people of our country should be able to come together with the thought that compromising is a solution rather than one side losing to the other.

You summed it up billybuc! Without the ability to sit at the table and compromise long lasting meaningful solutions will never be found in Washington. There is such unwillingness to even listen to the views of others. The way they behave leaves me to wonder whether holding Republican or Democratic views are based on genetics such that people affiliated with one party are biologically programmed to think in certain ways and are physiologically unable to let go.

Bill, this proposal would certainly be the answer. A patriot would think only of what's best for the country (that is, the people in the country). There would be political parties or special interest groups to distract from the common good. Why does doing the right thing appear so difficult?

Even though I live in Wales/UK it matters not when reading hubs such as this one because the story is basically the same. Voted up and shared as always Billy and keep on shouting with all your followers in good voice right behind you. Enjoy your day to you and Bev and a whole load of love for you both from Wales.

eddy.

Great article, Bill. I think the biggest problem in some societies is that people think "me" and "my need", etc. It's important too but as individuals, we have to think "we" for the better good of the society. If we all do our part and care, we can change the society for something better! The worse culprids now are the politicians. They seem to forget that behind them, there are people waiting for them to take their responsabilities and care about the nation.

You make far too much sense, I'm afraid. There was a time (think Clinton) when both sides of the aisle could sit down and agree. This President has made that process disappear because compromise is not his thing. Up, useful and awesome!

I've never been a political person. I hate politics and all the lies that comes with it. I'm not convinced that having a say, by way of voting, even works. I don't believe America put some of the people in office that are there now. Money talks and we peons have nothing to say about. I would love to see that change. I agree with you regarding doing away with political contributions. Perhaps then the people's voice will be heard.

Well said. When I started reading this, I thought it was going to be about Edward Snowden. In my opinion (speaking from the safety of the other side of the pond) he's a great patriot.

I totally agree with thrust of this hub. While left and right argue about increasing or decreasing tax by a percent or two, professional politicians and Corporations are quietly eroding our rights and democracy. It's happening in the UK as well.

Well said my friend. As you know I couldn't agree with you more if I wanted to. What really scares me is the ignorance of history demonstrated by way to many people today. Yes I hold the schools responsible for much of that ignorance. Couple that with mass media and no wonder we see more coverage of Justin Bieber than we do of what is happening around the world, from climate change to revolutions in other countries we cast a blind eye to most if not all of it. When it comes to patriots, well I'm afraid I'm really at a loss on that one. Sad but true. Keep the faith though my friend.

Bill, you pretty well summed it up with this one. Unfortunately change will never happen as long as the career politicians remain in office. It is they who invented the way things really work in Washington and they are beyond change at this point in time.

You nailed it with your comment about ignorance and apathy on the part of the citizens of this country. That is perhaps the biggest hurdle we need to get over before we can begin taking back our once great nation.

Very well handled. I am one of those mixed up folk who really moves from side to side without a thought to it. And sinse I have constant battle with myself I do not mind it with others. But there is nothing better than a good compromise. "The best agreements are where both sides feel cheated"