Moderates

I'm Sorry, no pictures today.  Just me spouting off so if you wish to skip this posting that is OK with me and remember it is just my opinion, I am not trying to offend anyone, just make people think a bit.

While we were on vacation I picked up a USA Today and was really interested in an article.  I cut that article out and would like to summarize some of the points that most struck me as thought provoking.  I don't know the exact date of the newspaper since I just took the one article out but it was some time in the first 2 weeks of September.  Diane Medved titled her article #!$%#@*^$% MODERATES!  In politics, as in family life, working through disagreements is essential.

It is a long article but the essence can be the question "How did extremes hijack the middle?  How did the strident voices out-shout the voice of reason"  She does have examples of both parties and their extreme attitudes by saying in the media today "You don't go viral suggesting respectful cooperation." The problem is evident between parties and within parties, each group claiming that they are the "true conservatives or defenders of the people"  " Repairing the increasingly bitter divisions requires coming together in the middle, rather than stubbornly clinging to the extremes.  Moderate is a compliment.  Moderation is measured and Prudent.  It needn't neglect principles.  Principles undergird proposals but moderation puts them into action.  Efforts to incorporate principles into real-life action won't get very far if you have to bully everyone else into accepting them.  Autocrats and dictators impose their views, elected officials work with their colleagues so the solutions crafted include as many underlying values as possible."
She goes on to point out "Ask any parent: Do you want your child to be reasonable, considerate  and tolerant of his sibling? (I would add do you want them to be that way with the people around them too?)  Or do you respect more the tantrum-prone child who demands things his own way?"
Another great example is "What kind of marriage is more likely to succeed?  One where a spouse unyieldingly rules the domicile or one where the mates offer selfless gestures to smooth and improve their relationship?  When one partner chooses to indulge the other's preference, or both compromise, are they abandoning principles?"

She ends with:  "When it comes to governing, visions of perfection and lofty principles inspire, but moderation lets us function in the real world."

I am hoping for some moderation in our world the next few weeks and maybe even it will come back in fashion.  Wouldn't that be nice.