Lexington County, SC — U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has inched toward showing potential for compromise as has President Obama regarding the financial steps necessary to not only avert the fiscal cliff and its consequences but have long-term financial stability.

Immediately after the election, however, Mr. Boehner said that because the House kept its Republican majority, there was no mandate for new taxes. Commentators have said that nothing has changed in Washington.

Maybe most don’t realize that the Republican control of the House was never in jeopardy. House members’ districts are drawn to make sure that incumbents have an easy path to success. House members pick their voters. Voters pay lip service to picking their congressmen.

The presidential and Senate elections — that is where the people spoke and ratified the policies of the president. We all want the country to prosper, and independent economists have said we need both increased taxes and changes in spending policies. Let’s get on with it.

Mary Balbach

West Columbia