Guest Column: Political parties must learn to work together

America has faced many challenges in the past six years, including the longest recession since the Great Depression, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the continuing battle against terrorism and the fight to be competitive in a global economy.
In the past two years especially, we have seen a dramatic intrusion of government in how we live: from the government takeover of health care, to the financial overregulation bill, to proposals for a devastating energy tax.
The recent election shows that the American people are fed up with Washington’s overspending, overregulation and overtaxation. Republicans in Congress, including my successor, will have their work cut out for them as they try to roll back this “government knows best” mentality.
But some folks are twisting the message of the past election to say that Americans do not want bipartisanship. I do not think that’s true; instead, Americans want Democrats and Republicans to work together on making government work for them. In fact, Americans were outraged by many of the very partisan measures produced by this Congress.
Unfortunately, of late, bipartisan has become something of a dirty word. But as I look back, the successes I’m most proud of were achieved because people were willing to reach across the aisle for the common good.
I worked together with Democrats and Republicans to pass the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, giving our intelligence agencies the tools they need to catch terrorists; expand Community Health Centers, America’s health care safety net; and reform election laws with the Help America Vote Act, making it easier to vote and harder to cheat.
To build upon these successes, I hope my friends in Washington, D.C., accept a bit of parting advice from this old bull.
First: Work together.
Everyone talks about how partisan things are now, but guess what: It has always been partisan. In a world today where enemies are real — the kind who seek to destroy others based on their religion — it is important to remember there is a lot of real estate between a political opponent and a true enemy.
There will always be issues for which people of good conscience cannot come together. But let us never let what cannot be done interfere with what can be done.
And, just as important, it is critical that elected officials remember that the best ideas come from the people at home; they do not originate in Washington.
Any accomplishments with which I am credited are a result of my partnership with local leaders, local pastors, neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce, health care providers and entrepreneurs about how they think their communities need to be improved and what problems need to be solved.
This type of partnership and commitment to change is the only way to solve the challenges facing our communities, whether it is tackling crime-ridden neighborhoods, a shortage in affordable housing, lack of quality health care or roads and bridges in need of repair.
Finally, I thank you, the voters of Missouri who sent me to Jefferson City three times and to Washington, D.C., four times to represent you. I am truly blessed to have been entrusted by you with the responsibility of public office.