Once upon a time in American politics Democrats would fight, Republicans would argue, both would give a little to get a little, and the messy business of governing got done…and after work they had a beer together and talked about family and friends.

Not so much anymore.

The truth is religion is about the absolute conviction of personal faith; ideology is about the certainty of one’s views being resolute; but politics is about compromise, at least when done with skill, wisdom, and common sense.

That, the common sense of compromise, seems to be what has become in America a lost art.

Consider the current debate about extending the Bush tax cuts. Republicans demand all of these tax cuts be made permanent while Democrats insist not making permanent the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent.

Both sides offer some salient points to make their case. Democrats argue that the richest Americans can afford to have the tax cuts expire. That is certainly true. But they also argue that extending the tax cuts for the wealthy would be paid for by debt and cost over $700 billion over the next decade.

That is also true, but the logic of the argument then would extend to all of the tax cuts at every income level, for the tax cuts will generate new debt in any case, not just by extending the cuts for the rich.

Republicans argue that ending the cuts on the rich alone is just basically unfair. That is true. Republicans also argue that tax cuts to the rich create jobs, and that is not so true.

The cuts have been in place throughout this recession and there have been no real jobs created as a result of the tax rates, and therefore no reason to suspect that extending the cuts will suddenly result in new jobs created. Republicans also argue that raising taxes on anyone during a recession is bad for economic recovery.

In this they are right, but cynical…for they believe in tax cuts in good economies, bad economies, and any economy.

Both political parties argue that they understand voters want spending and deficits and debt brought under control.

Yet by extending temporarily or permanently the tax cuts for the middle class and/or the wealthy they will increase the deficit and the debt by trillions of dollars over the next decade even if significant spending cuts take place.

In the Good Old Days both parties might find some humility and after demanding all or nothing, resolve to solve the problem and move on. In this case that might mean agreeing that eventually all of the tax cuts must be allowed to expire if they continue to create any debt.

In a recent USA Today/Gallup poll a plurality of Americans (45 percent) agreed that the tax cuts should remain only temporarily, so there is no need for political shelter from making the right decision here.

An AP/CNBC poll found 65 percent of respondents believe that balancing the federal budget will require tax increases as well as spending cuts.

So while both parties argue over who gets to keep the tax cuts the American people realize taxes have to increase to fix our fiscal crisis.

Unfortunately, neither political party has much incentive to compromise. Republicans fear compromise because the Tea Party minority wants no compromise.

Likewise, the progressives within the Democratic Party want no concessions to the richest Americans…and certainly none paid for by new debt.

The most likely solution? Probably extensions of all the tax cuts and postponement of any sensible long-term solution to our budget woes.

But once upon a time. …

Jim Crawford is a contributing columnist for The Tribune and a former educator at Ohio University Southern.