Americans can compromise

Now we'll see if Congress can compromise too.

The Washington Post polled Americans on the four major provisions in the tax deal Obama negotiated with Republicans last week.

Asked about the provisions one at a time, only 11% of those polled approved of all four.

But when asked if they backed the entire package - with all four provisions bundled together - 69% gave it the thumbs up.

This, of course, is the nature of compromise. I'll take a bit of what I don't like in order to get some of what I do.

Politicians, however, have gotten into the habit of rejecting compromise as lilly-livered flip-flopping. Hatching a deal with opposition, according to some lawmakers, is akin to selling your soul.

Thank goodness Americans still recognize the sense in lilly-livered compromise. Hopefully some of that common sense will brush off on their elected leaders.