Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Compromise isn’t weakness - it’s the backbone of a functioning democracy

In today’s political climate, it’s easy to forget what keeps a government functioning. Successful government relies on legislative compromises, not rigid ideology, unilateral action, or the whims of a single leader. Yet too often, both left and right political tribes are so caught up in scoring points or shoring up their base. They do not understand why compromise is essential. Social media only amplifies this. That turns nuance into outrage, debate into soundbites, and governance into a spectator sport.

Supporting sound policy doesn’t automatically make you “left” or “right”; it’s a matter of political maturity. Maturity means recognising that good ideas can come from anywhere and that governance is about results, not allegiance. Regardless of which side of politics you support, we all need government to succeed. A good opposition understands the value of sound negotiation and politically mature compromise—they don’t reject ideas simply because mthey come from the other side, but because they assess whether they strengthen governance and serve the public.

Real governance isn’t about forcing one party’s agenda on the nation—it’s about negotiation, balancing competing interests, and finding solutions that most can live with. When tribalism and online echo chambers dominate, policy grinds to a halt. When that happens, public trust evaporates, and the system itself falters.