You can buy consensus

Compromise is no longer the ideal and I do not know why. The goal now is for consensus because in consensus everyone agrees on what should be done and everyone is a winner. In what rainbow colored, lollypop licking fantasy world do we live in where everyone is going to be a winner? In compromise, there is sacrifice. You will have to give up something to get a little bit of what you want. This is a little closer to what life is like isn’t it?

Besides there are a number of reasons why consensus does not work. One: Consensus won’t work if you are dealing with a bunch of morons or the completely insane. Two: People who truly believe in consensus will do anything to make it work which includes making compromises. Three: Consensus benefits persuasive people (“We’ve all come to the conclusion that I was right.”). Four: Consensus favors the ones in power (“It’s in everyone’s best interest to agree with me.”) Five: Consensus assumes everyone is in control and everyone is right even if they are morons or completely insane. Six: Nothing gets done with consensus because it takes forever.

Compromise is not perfect, but neither are people. Compromise is the ultimate democratic tool where even the morons and the insane are heard. Compromise can be honestly agreed upon. Compromise can humble the ones in control. Compromise forces you to take the needs of others into consideration which means that no one person or group is completely right. I say we work within our boundaries and accept the limitations that compromise brings. Have faith the bad ideas and policies will work themselves out over time.

While you’re doing this, I will do my best to build consensus for my position.