and have the ability to compromise; who are willing to be team players and fight for what they believe without demonizing their opponents, so that they may work with them again on different issues. A politician who refuses to compromise is typically labeled as an “ideologue”, a title which has little prestige among members of political class.III. Backlash of compromise and the role politics playin regard to effectiveness of compromise.Politicians who are known for compromise are less attractive in the public opinion. The public prefers rigid adherence to principles they believe are important, and don’t generally understand the essential need for compromise, or how necessary it is to get things done. Because compromise is essential to being effective for the constituency, each legislator is confronted by the difficult task of being an expert compromiser in legislatures while appearing to voters to be an uncompromising champion of principle. Democratic politics falls short of achieving optimal compromise not only because of immoderate ideological restraints imposed on representatives by voters, but also because it displaces arrangements which could achieve a far greater amount of progress. Politics stifle more beneficial compromise than it promotes.President George Bush Sr. learned how damaging a non-compliant attitude in regards to his 1990 “read my lips, no new taxes” campaign pledge. President Bush Sr. did what comes naturally to all politicians: compromise first and worry about ideology later. However, his problem was he was caught in the act and his political rivals easily portrayed his character as an unprincipled leader. He stated “The biggest mistake of my presidency was that I damaged my credibility by agreeing to a tax increase...I worked a compromise and it cost me plenty” (Bush 1996). However, when Ronald Reagan compromised during his presidency, he had such refined communication skil...
