I have noticed lately that even some of my Progressive friends are beginning to say that there is not much difference between the Republicans and the Democrats these days. This got me to thinking, is that true? Have we reached the point that, in order to get elected to anything, politicians just move to the completely vanilla "center" where there isn't really any difference between the parties? Are we really a "center right" country, as many would have us believe?
First, I hope not. It seems to me that the "center" is a place where people don't really believe in anything substantial. It's that vanilla center that sounds good, but is not only boring, but really doesn't get anything done. So, I suppose that based on that definition, that really is where this country is right now. But wouldn't it be great of there really were two parties that embraced two different philosophies? That the Republicans would simply admit, and campaign on, what they really believe in the heart of hearts. And that the Democrats would do the same?
In order to accomplish that the Republicans would have to admit that they simply don't believe in any kind of social safety net funded by, or controlled by, the government (that's any form of government). that given the chance they would eliminate hateful programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, etc, etc, That they would also eliminate nearly all government regulations on business and institute a very perverted form of Capitalism in which all profits go to the Corporations and the rich, and all of the risk is held by the tax-payer (which neither the rich no the corporation would be). In their vision for this country, we would continue to have the boom and bust cycles in the economy that we have been experiencing ever since the Conservatives have had any kind of influence over out economy. However, in their world, help for those who lose their jobs, etc during the bust cycles would be completely up to private charities. Forgetting, of course, that the donations to those charities tend to dry up at the times of most need. If you want to see what the bust times without the social safety net looks like, just read up on the Great Depression. Remember, a lot of the social safety net was put into place after the Great Depression because it became clear during the Great Depression that private charities weren't up to taking care of people on that kind of massive scale. But the Republicans don't care about any of that. The think that the unemployed just need to "get up off the lazy asses and get a job".
The Democrats, on the other hand believe strongly in the social siafty net put into place by FDR and LBJ. They believe that the part of the preamble of the Constitution "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." means that we have a solemn duty to help those who need it. That the part that talks about the "promote the general Welfare" means exactly what it says (bet you didn't know I was a strict constructionist). To that end it means that the people of this country have a right to be free from hunger, to receive basic health-care, to have shelter and clothing. Because without those things, how can we possiblly "promote the general Welfare"?
As you can see, the two positions above have no intersection! There is no "middle ground" between these two diametrically opposing points of view. One philosophy believes that everyone is on his own, and the other believes that we are all responsible for each other. To "move to the middle" means giving up some of your core beliefs. How do yo do that?
I wish I had some answers, but I don't. All I can say is that I strong believe that one of the reasons that we are where we are today in politics is this problem, and until we figure out how to solve it, we will continue to have ineffectual government at every level.
Joerg
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