The Facts On The Ground

 - Extreme Partisanship has grown to be the norm
 - Compromise is no longer an option
 - Name-calling has replaced debate and deliberation
 - Nothing of substance is being done


The Editorial

We have seen over many years a deepening divide in America - it has always been there in some form or another, but as of late it is less civil and more war. In the days of the founding of the United States, political parties were not an issue on a national level. Representatives were elected to represent the interests of their constituency, and did so with fervor. The Federal government was much smaller and if not nimble, at least it was not the slow moving behemoth we have today.  As time went by, and the nation grew the individual votes of the legislators were watered down by the size of the institution. Alliances were made among members with similar interests and these in turn grew into political parties, which originally rallied around issues central to the day. Proponents of a strong federal government were called Federalist. Proponents of a weaker federal government and strong state's rights were call Democrats. Over time the parties evolved in philosophy, changing names as issues and events warranted. As the common people became involved in the process, more issues were brought into each party's tent - normally the positions on these issues was adversarial - so as to contrast one party from another. This made the parties more easily identifiable to the voters. Over the years the modern Republicans have evolved from the abolishonist party, to the isolationist party, to the party of world engagement,free trade and military etrength. The Democrats have done a complementary evolution - starting off engaged with the world and hawkish on the military, through segregationist, and now champions the rights of all the disaffected. In doing so, the two major parties absorbed all of the issues, leaving the potential for a third party to single issue candidates with little hope of election to office, except lately.

Over the years, the wholesale politics of Washington, (where one legislator of one view can work with a legislator of another view to push the people's business forward) has been replaced by a harsh retail brand of politics. In this retail brand, the common good of the country is replaced by a zero-sum game in which everything the goverment does for one constituency comes at a direct cost to another. The win-win scenario, where both sides benefit is as foreign to Washington as a polite policy conversation. Hyperbole and over-the-top hystronics in language have both the Republicans and Democrats looking like monsters out to destroy anyone who doesn't drink that particular brand of Kool-Aid. I for one, think that the vast majority of the government is like that great silent majority of the citizenry - practical, flexible and wanting the best for the country - but also unwilling to stick their necks out for fear of becoming fodder for the media. We need to encourage these legislators and executives, and punish the extremists of both parties.

Encouragement can be in the simple form of a Thank You email to your local Congressman or Congresswoman for not taking part in fueling the fire. A well placed rebuke to those that need to grow up is useful also. As always we need to follow the money - which will be the subject of another piece. Our votes should go to encouraging this behavior as well.

This is not to say that a candidate or office holder should have no unswerving principles. The proverb holds true that he who believes in nothing will fall for anything. There will always be disagreements among people of intelligence and good faith. Sometimes a leader must not compromise.  That is one of the essences of leadership. It should not be the default mindset on every issue that comes to pass.