I started writing this in July 2016. After watching the fiasco at the U.S. Capitol in January, I felt compelled to finish the editorial.

Am I the only one who reads the paper, watches the news or listens to conversations of others who gets disgusted with both the Democrats and Republicans? The country was founded on compromise at the first Continental Congress. Is it so hard for someone to not get their own way?

Here and now, I am going to confess that I have been a registered Democrat all my life. When I hear people say that some Democrats would vote for a monkey rather than a Republican, I get depressed. I have been living, and compromising, with a Republican for the past 40 years. Sometimes one of us does not get what we want, and we learn to live without.

I remember many years ago I saw a motivational tape that said: “If I have a point of view and she has a different point of view and neither will compromise, then we must arrive at a viewpoint we can live with.” Sure, both of us must give up a little for the betterment of the house and to keep harmony in our lives.

It might be that as a Democrat I truly love her even though she is a Republican. But then on the bigger scale of government, should we not be able to debate and still love one another according to God. Maybe our elected officials should take vows instead of an oath of office. Maybe they should just remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you have them do unto you.

Changes can be made, but the biggest change nationally, statewide or locally is respect for one another and the ability to compromise. I love the Republican that I live with and would not want it any other way.

I do not remember when our elected officials lost the ability to compromise at the national or state level, but I miss the good old days: when our elected representatives did what was best for the country, and not for the party in power.

Danny R. McKnight,

Butler