Compromise Is One Big Beautiful Headache

Letter to Ephesians: Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” to get thru Congress is full of that alleged dirty word “compromise.” Consider the debates raging over its SALT, Tips & Social Security provisions. Then, remember the nation was founded on compromises, some great, others horrific. Yet, we’re still here because of it. It’s called “Democracy.”

Recall too what Shelby Foote said at the beginning of Ken Burns’ iconic “Civil War,” that is: “Americans have always had a genius for compromise ... our nation was founded on it ... and their failure to do so” circa 1860 led to the death of over 700,000 citizens. Not that we are near Civil War now, even if the legislature, judiciary and executive branches have been talking and sometimes acting like it. Yet, it’s no coincidence that 100% of the folks in my diverse golf group meeting over lunch the other day managed to agree Trump’s “Art of the Deal” aka “Compromise” is now regrettably lost on way too many Americans. The unmitigated angst over a tax or reconciliation bill that hasn’t even been subjected to a vote in Congress yet is a prime example.

Just look at the proposed new “$4K tax deduction” for seniors rather than the once-promised elimination of any tax on Social Security benefits. Something about a $37 trillion national debt apparently argued in favor of this “compromise” during the drafting stages. Call it and frame it anyway you want, but most tax experts analyzing the complicated latest details have agreed that the proposal would provide a meaningful tax break for most low- and middle-income seniors. It sounds ugly, it’s true. But, so are all compromises because it’s always a win-lose proposition. Maybe the golf group has hit upon rediscovering the Art of the Compromise?

Davd Soul