Stand Firm: Compromise Is the Enemy of Liberty
Surrendering Freedom One Vote at a Time
Compromise: Is It a Good Thing or a Bad Thing in Government?
It’s one thing to compromise on where to go to dinner, what movie to watch, or where to take a vacation. Those compromises are simple they build relationships and keep the peace.
But compromising on policies, taxes, and appropriations? That’s an entirely different story.
When has compromise ever led to lower taxes, less government spending, or more personal freedom? If compromise really worked, why are we $37 trillion in debt? Why has Idaho’s budget exploded from $7 billion in 2016 to $13.9 billion in 2025, with $2.9 billion in continuous spending? Where are the success stories?
If compromise was such a political virtue, why don’t we see elected officials proudly running on it? Where are the campaign slogans that say, “Vote for me I’m a compromised politician” or “I’m a compromised Republican”?
You won’t find them because deep down, we all know:
Compromise is often the gateway to bigger government, higher taxes, and fewer freedoms.
Why do I share this?
Because I stand firm unwilling to compromise on my Biblical worldview, on Truth, or on how I vote when it comes to policy. And yet, I’m constantly expected to "compromise" on bills and votes just so we can check a box and claim, “We did something for Idaho.”
But at what cost?
Yes, the Founders compromised on certain details but they never compromised on core principles like liberty, limited government, personal responsibility, and God-given rights.
So the real question is this:
Are we compromising on preferences or are we surrendering principles?
Because once we start surrendering principles, we aren’t “doing something for Idaho.”
We’re doing something to Idaho.
As we head into another legislative session and campaign season, I am making this commitment clear:
I will discipline myself to stay true to my principles, integrity, and Biblical morals.
I am not willing to sacrifice any of these for re-election, political favors, or to make my life easier by simply "going with the flow."
I am not a company woman for “Idaho Corporation”.
I am a statesman, loyal to our Constitutional Republic, to the people of Idaho, and to the values that built this great nation.
We are living in a time when we cannot afford to be faint of heart, lazy, or compromising if we truly wish to pass down the precious gift of freedom and liberty to the next generation.
As we prepare to celebrate America’s 249th Fourth of July, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on what was sacrificed to secure the freedoms we enjoy today—and ask yourself:
What are YOU willing to sacrifice to preserve those freedoms for your children and grandchildren?
The torch is in our hands. Let’s be worthy of carrying it forward.
“Posterity you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” John Adams
And remember the words of Scripture:
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV)
Freedom is not inherited it is defended, protected, and passed on. Let’s rise to the task.
Lifting up prayers to the families and fellow firefighters that lost loved ones in the tragic shooting in Coeur d’Alene. May you be comforted beyond understanding during this time.
The biggest problem we face is voting out government lifers and other career politicians who grow fat, rich and pensioned as the citizenry goes weary and broke.
You are right that compromising on principles should never be done. However, it seems to me that some lawmakers—in a laudable effort to maintain ideological purity—tend to turn up their noses at bills that would represent a step in the right direction, simply because they don’t go as far as they really ought to. The reason we have such a great constitutional carry law in Idaho is because we had lawmakers who were willing to get there one step at a time. The key to their success was their willingness to reach full constitutional carry over the course of several sessions, expanding the original law over several sessions, rather than insisting (futilely) on all-or-nothing bills.
As conservatives, we need to learn to hold firmly to our principles while having enough political savvy to play the long game, reaching our lofty goals through incremental wins.