In 1980, a new single from the progressive rock band, Pink Floyd, was released. The song was “Comfortably Numb,” and it was included in their new album, The Wall, which was released in 1979.
To say that it was a commercial success would be one of the greatest understatements of all time. It has since been voted one of the greatest rock songs in history, and David Gilmour’s guitar solo is considered the greatest guitar solo ever recorded.
The thing is, that song was drastically close to never being heard, for the very simple reason that the two Alpha males on Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and Roger Waters, could not agree on how it should be played/arranged. Waters wanted an orchestra playing in the background; Gilmour wanted a stripped-down version.
The disagreement was so acrimonious that it led to Waters eventually leaving the group and heading off on a solo career; the two Alphas have rarely spoken to each other since 1980. However, the song was recorded, and it was recorded because each of the two musicians agreed to include both approaches into the final version of the song.
In other words, they compromised, agreeing that it was better to record a version that neither one was terribly happy with rather than record no song at all.
The rest, as they say, is history.
At the same time as the release of “Comfortably Numb,” the Speaker of the House of Representatives was a gentleman from Boston by the name of Tip O’Neill.
You might be wondering how these two topics, a great rock song and a career politician, are related.
Stay tuned!
O’Neill was a hard-drinking Irish Democrat, had been around D.C. politics seemingly forever, and knew every political trick in the book. As you might suspect, during so many years in public service, he met his share of opposition from the Republicans, and when the going really got tough, when it looked like no progress would be made, O’Neill would turn to his favorite bargaining approach . . . he would meet with a member of the opposition over drinks . . . numerous drinks . . . copious amounts of alcohol . . . and he and they would pound out a compromise. Quite often it was a compromise neither party was terribly fond of, but to O’Neill’s way of thinking, any agreement on a partial win was better than no agreement and absolutely no progress at all.
I say this to you all, based on observing national politics now for seventy-six years, our elected officials, nay, the electorate in general, have lost the ability and/or desire to compromise on anything and, in the end, we all lose because of it.
Currently there are three-hundred-and-forty-million people in the United States. What do you think the odds are that any legislation is going to please everyone? This is a nation built upon the principle of compromise and yet, our representatives are more interested in thirty-second sound-bites to promote their careers than actually getting anything done.
I say this in all honesty: I am embarrassed by the Democratic Party, a party I have belonged to for over a half-century. They have lost their way, have lost their mission, and many are bought and paid for. And, if I were a Republican, I would say the same thing. I am so disgusted by it all, by the antics on television, by the antics on social media by the general public, that from here on I will consider myself an Independent, saving my vote for a saner voice, saving my vote for a platform which has substantive change, positive change, and compassionate change.
Who sang that song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want?” The Stones? Truer words were never spoken referring to politics. This country desperately needs a Congress consisting of people willing to compromise for the common good. Forget about winning and losing for the Elephants or Asses; concentrate on winning for the U.S. citizens who deserve representatives who actually work for their constituents and are not purchased by the highest bidder.
Compromise . . . good things can happen when it is utilized. Will I see it again in my lifetime?
Stay tuned!
Bill
