Letter: Democracy requires listening; Compromise is wise

Like many Americans, I feel baffled by the growing extremism and loss of balance in our public life. I often wonder why simpler solutions seem impossible for complex political problems.

For example, instead of endless gerrymandering battles, why can we not openly debate whether the Electoral College still serves the people fairly? The answer seems less about what is best for democracy and more about who benefits from keeping power.

Our nation was founded on both majority rule and protections against concentrated power, but somewhere along the way, we seem to have lost the ability to listen to one another with humility and trust. Compromise is now treated as weakness instead of wisdom.

Democracy cannot survive on fear, division, and manipulation alone. It depends on citizens and leaders willing to dialogue honestly, think beyond party advantage, and remember that the purpose of government is to serve the people — all the people.

Mary Lee Hillenbrand
Ferdinand