Compromise is the heart and soul of democracy, where debate is encouraged so that in the end all voices are heard.

However, what we’ve seen in Congress has gone far beyond the principles of healthy discussion. Creating gridlock is not the same as standing up for your views; it is playing partisan politics at the expense of your country.

I believe the time has come for all of us, conservatives and liberals alike, to demand that our legislators find common ground and compromise in order to move our country forward. Our responsibility as citizens must not end with casting our ballots

Politics does not function well when it is viewed like a Friday night football game with clear winners and losers. When shutting down any legislation supported by the other party is seen as success, then the gridlock and paralysis that we have all witnessed is the consequence.

Politicians do react to their constituents. I believe it is time for all of us to contact our own legislators as well as Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. They need to hear clearly that we are watching and will not tolerate a continuation of the last two years.

Karen Parks

Greenacres