When Compromise Is Not Called For

On September 23, 1779 in the midst of one of the bloodiest engagements in naval history, John Paul Jones was struggling against the forty-four gun Royal Navy frigate Serapis and although his own vessel was burning and sinking, Jones would not accept the British demand for surrender. Instead Jones declared, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Little more than three hours later, the Serapis surrendered and Jones took command.

The voice of the American people was heard this November 2^nd for the first time in the past two years. The Republican Party regained control of the House of Representatives, picking up a historic sixty seats and possibly sixty-five or more seats as final votes are tallied. Six Senate seats were gained by Republicans with another two seats possible as close contests are resolved, further diminishing Democratic political power. The Grand Old Party (GOP) also gained a net eight governorships and nineteen State legislatures changed over from Democratic to Republican control.

In the final days leading up to the election and in the hours immediately following, the President began to call for compromise. Really? After taking the oath of office in January of 2009, Mr. Obama declared, “Elections have consequences and we won!” He then led his fellow Democrats on an eighteen month assault against Republicans in Congress and against the will of the American people, pushing his left-of-center agenda. Just before this week’s election he said the Republicans can come along but, “They need to sit in the back.” He also publically referred to his opponents as “Enemies.”

Now he wants compromise, but the only compromise that the American people clearly want is for the President and the Democrats to move off their agenda and come to them.

This is not a time in our nation’s history when compromise is called for. The American people did not vote for or against particular candidates, as much as they voted against Mr. Obama’s agenda. The American people now expect their will to be followed.

Those newly elected and those re-elected need to understand that the people want smaller government and greater liberty. The people want the size of government dramatically cut and they want the role of government in their lives reduced. The people have no interest in being governed from the left, the center or the right – they want to govern themselves.

The people fully understand that Obamacare (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010) will drive up the cost of health care, threatens to destroy the greatest health care system in the world and will eventually bankrupt our nation. The people want Obamacare repealed and replaced with simple, common sense health insurance reform.

The people want a focus on the economy and job creation with proven policies of lower taxes and reasonable regulation. They want to unlock the American entrepreneurial engine.

The people are suspect of the Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) with appointed staff seizing unchecked power. They want Congress to limit the power of this agency and of any other agency capable of potential dictatorial rule.

The people want our government to work on keeping the homeland and all citizens safe. They want our borders secure and they want to maintain a war-footing relative to the terror threat facing our country, our citizens and the entire world.

Make little mistake about what the American people said – shouted – in this election. The only compromise that is acceptable is for our elected representatives to give in to the will of the people. The Republicans have been charged with assuring this and Mr. Obama and the Democrats have been put on notice to comply.

While the victory on November 2^nd was historic in its scope and in its meaning, it will be lost if the under-pinning principles of that victory are allowed to be compromised. Now is the time for every citizen to remind Congress and the President that, “We have not yet begun to fight.”

Robert Allen Bonelli is the author of “Liberty Rising,” an accomplished business executive, public speaker and involved citizen.