It seems illogical for candidates to tell voters during campaigns that they will refuse to compromise and then assume the members of the other party simply will give in to their demands.

This no-compromise thinking has been touted by Tea Party members nationwide. It has been touted by candidates across the country elected on the issue of abortion, and it was touted by the Republicans in Minnesota in the 2010 campaigns regarding taxes and budgets.

There is no doubt they have stuck to their guns.

However, the writing on the wall is clear. Nobody wins without compromise.

If the state shutdown is to end, the Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature will have to allow a tax increase on the wealthy. Gov. Mark Dayton told the voters in 2010 he would tax the wealthy, and the voters elected him. It would be hard to argue a tax on the wealthy is something the people of Minnesota were not expecting.

The GOP argument that a tax increase of the richest Minnesotans would be harmful in these poor economic times remains unproven. However, not approving a tax increase would result in more property tax increases. What voters deserve to hear from politicians is whether they think tax increases on the middle class would harm the economy and whether decreases in government services would harm the economy.

Dayton and the DFL members again and again have offered compromises. Dayton can be patient because knows the Republicans face re-election in 2012 and he faces re-election 2014.

Give the governor his tax increase, then let the voters decide which side was right and which side was wrong. That’s usually how compromise goes. It’s classic American politics.