Virginia Tomorrow

When someone who strode large upon our world passes, the frenetic pace slows-even stops.  As it should.  Ted Kennedy was such a man.  And for a few days we have reflected on his life. 

He mattered.  Regardless of one’s views on the issues he championed, or the role of government in their pursuit, he labored tirelessly and effectively for his beliefs.

Oh yes, he was flawed, not in little ways, but big ones.  So what?  His life, like our own, is a balance sheet and his tilted towards the positive.

Much has been written on his life and this will be mercifully short.  But to me, one aspect of his career must be heralded.  In these times in particular, because our politics today seem overly afflicted with those who ignore this attribute.

He knew that to govern one must function in the legislative process, within a constitutional structure designed to divide government horizontally-three branches-and vertically-nation and states.  He knew and practiced the art of compromise and negotiation-sometimes seemingly endlessly-to fashion legislation that balanced competing interests to advance goals widely shared.

No one thought Ted Kennedy to be any less a champion of Liberal causes because he sought compromise in order to achieve part of the goals he cherished.

Perhaps the best two examples are No Child Left Behind and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Broadly speaking both enjoy and enjoyed at the time of voting, overwhelming support across the philosophical spectrum (though, of course, not from all quarters) and united liberals and conservatives for their passage.

In Virginia, we should encourage those who practice that art.  We cannot continue our failure to address critical problems because the compromises inherent in the challenge of governing elude us.

We rightly value those who stand by the principles they hold dear and champion the causes they believe to be right.

But we also need men and women who understand that decaying infrastructure and clogged traffic lanes are neither liberal nor conservative, but just problems that are at the heart of what government must address.

We seek leaders who, like Kennedy, realize that solutions fashioned with half loafs to make a whole are, most of the time, better than an empty plate.