I’m tired of hearing Democrats say they are being “held hostage” by Republicans. They have mastered the art of the 30-second sound bite for maximum impact and shock value. Unfortunately, this tactic does nothing to further intelligent debate to arrive at real solutions.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a hostage is one of the following:
1. a person held by one party in a conflict as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an agreement;
2. a person taken by force to secure the taker’s demands;
3. one that is involuntarily controlled by an outside influence.

To the best of my knowledge, no person(s) has been “taken” and “held” “by force” in the interest of furthering a Republican agenda, so it must be the third definition that we’re working with here, causing Democrats to feel they are being “involuntarily controlled by an outside influence.”

For example, during California’s budgeting process, GreenGov2010.org reported “Five Senate Republicans are holding the state budget hostage, and the ransom they are asking for is the gutting of the California Environmental Quality Act.”

Let’s see, at the time, Senate Democrats held a 24-14 majority over Republicans. Did they really need five Republican votes for passage? And even if they did, is this really a hostage situation? I thought this was “negotiation.”

It probably wouldn’t have felt as much like a hostage situation to the Democrats if they had involved the Republican caucus in budget discussions from the beginning. Though I’m sure when you have nearly a two-thirds majority, it must seem like you don’t need those other people. With so many pieces of legislation passing with only a simple-majority vote, you can ram through any legislation you want without involving the minority party.

Imagine their frustration running into that wall of a handful of Republican votes. They must have felt like hostages.

Last week, the DailyKos.com reported “Republicans will hold the debt ceiling hostage.”

Does this mean that Democrats were holding tax cuts and spending cuts hostage? I’ve never heard anyone frame the other side of the debate that way, but based on the Democrats usage of the word “hostage,” it fits. However, you won’t hear me using that argument.

It isn’t a hostage situation. Hostages imply people whose lives and well-being are at stake. And while, yes, these issues do impact the future well-being of the American people, neither Republicans nor Democrats are intentionally attempting to inflict harm if they don’t get their way. We just happen to have vastly different ideas as to the best way to accomplish the freedom and prosperity we all long to have.

Unfortunately, we’ve gotten ourselves into such a mess that the fix, regardless of what it is, is going to be painful to some, if not most Americans. But they aren’t hostages. They are being governed by leaders they’ve chosen.

The process to arrive at solution involves discussion and negotiation. Both sides must make concessions to reach a compromise. That doesn’t make either side a hostage situation. Each side has their target goals to reach. Rarely do they align.

Compromise involves give and take on both sides. You’re not hostages, and you’re not always going to get 100 percent of what you’re aiming for. So come to the table prepared to give a little and get something done on behalf of the people who elected you.

Governing requires visionary leadership, not political grandstanding, petty name-calling and scare-tactic sound bites.

Tammy Messina is a resident of Santa Clarita, a local business owner, and a producer for “The Real Side Radio Show.” She can be reached at tmessina@wildcat.la.