What's happening to the middle?

Independents. Middle ground. Compromise. These concepts are lost in national politics today. Why is most of the political "energy" we're seeing today go to the extremes? On the far right, Tea party types are causing fits for the traditional Republican party. On the left, extreme ideas on display in Congress today like environmentalism/cap and trade, increased regulation on business and more government involvement in healthcare leave a lot of us wishing for more middle ground.

Other than about a six-month window from about May to November each presidential election year, those middle ground ideas are forgotten. Most of us live in the "middle" every day. We know that a little "give-n-take" with our spouse, with our families and in the workplace makes the world go around. The middle is the grease of our lives. The middle gets things done.

How about some middle on the environment? If we accept that we need to move away from coal-fired electricity, let's find the middle on nuclear power. The environmentalists need to quit using the courts and other measures to stop progress on nuclear power plants. Incentivize more "green" power production and technology but let's not criminalize coal and double the midwest's electric rates in the process.

How about some middle ground on healthcare? Force health insurance companies to cover some of the unhealthy population with reasonable rates but let them compete across state lines. Let's curtail unnecessary tests and related costs and cap medical malpractice awards.

The middle is where politics and a whole lot more gets accomplished.