I've Been on Tilt

I have not posted anything to this blog in weeks. The reason is that I have been on tilt...in a state of disbelief, suspended from participation of any kind in public dialogue. It all began with Democrat capitulation to President Bush on the Iraq war, followed by capitulation on FISA, and then to add a different dimension to the overall surreal state of public affairs, the deafening silence from both sides regarding the Larry Craig incident. Republicans are understandably embarrassed and would like the whole matter to just go away, but you can imagine their sustained public indignation if the transgressor had been a Democrat. Democrats on the other hand seem to be afraid of offending their gay constituency. Apparently it is politically incorrect among Democrats to criticize sexual indiscretions that occur between members of the same sex, no matter how depraved. Salon even jumped into the Craig issue with a featured piece about how "hot" bathroom sex is! I found myself wondering what planet I am on.

Follow up these events with continued capitulation by Democrats on virtually every point of contention with the most unpopular, clearly deluded and dangerous President in modern history and I find myself disoriented. The American people overturned the Republican Congress to put an end to the disastrous war in Iraq and the cowardice of the Democrats elected for that purpose is extremely disappointing. I am hoping that there is some method to the madness, and at some strategic point they will start holding the line, but at this point such thoughts seem more like fantasy than legitimate hope.

Personally, I am questioning what purpose it will serve to continue to weigh in on public affairs. Is there any value in putting forth a balanced view, or is it just a waste of time? Are we headed into ever more violent foreign policy and lawless government regardless of which party is in charge? Is political correctness (both "conservative" and "liberal" versions) so dominant that honest debate is no longer possible on any issue? Are we condemned to continue to be ruled by the least among us? I remain suspended and unsure of the answers to these questions.

The Politics of Unity

The politics of unity is the simple yet sublime process of consolidating the disparate interests of society into public policy that supports all the people. Such a process requires that our elected representatives give themselves over to that process, and it requires a political environment of tolerance, mutual respect and open and honest debate. It is not compatible with the corrupting influences of negative campaigns and nonstop fund raising that characterize our current political process. We the people can enforce such a regime by refusing to be manipulated by demagogues, by demanding an end to big money political campaigns, and by giving our support to those leaders who exhibit wisdom, emotional maturity and a genuine desire to engage in public service. The politics of unity is not necessarily something that every citizen will be able to practice, but I think that everyone should be able to recognize that in the long run it is in their best interest to give their support to leaders who can and do.

Bloomberg on Partisanship

Michael Bloomberg's comments as he announced his departure from the Republican Party highlight our most pressing need. As he put it;

"The politics of partisanship and the resulting inaction and excuses have paralyzed decision-making, primarily at the federal level, and the big issues of the day are not being addressed, leaving our future in jeopardy."

Bloomberg was speaking at "Ceasefire! Bridging the Political Divide," the inaugural event for the Annenberg School for Communication's recently established Center on Communication Leadership. Let's hope this message takes root.

Process Matters

In 1994 and '96 I ran for Congress against one of the few elected officials who would not take PAC money, Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa. He was honorable in his service to a degree not often seen these days. By refusing to take money from vested interests he was able to maintain his independence. He looked to the common good and the interests of his constituents, voting his beliefs and his conscience after sober consideration of the issues. This high standard earned him the enmity of the rabid partisans who took control of his party in the '90's and who proceeded to marginalize him during his last years in the House. Rep. Leach finally lost his seat in the '06 election after 30 years of distinguished and exemplary service.

Jim Leach lamented the mean-spiritedness that arrived in Washington with the culture war in the ‘80’s, and which has been ratcheting upwards ever since. One of the things he liked to say during his campaigning was that "process is as important as product," meaning that our political campaigns should focus honestly and respectfully on the issues, and not engage in personal attacks and misrepresentations of the positions one’s opponents. His response to attacks made on him was to address the substance of the issue raised, if there were one, and to reiterate his position that campaign rhetoric should focus on the issues and not on personal attacks.

Throughout his career Jim never engaged in the character assassination, attack ads and appeals to base emotion which have become standard procedure in our political campaigns. Instead, he ran on his own moderate record, promising more of the same, and engaged in honest and respectful debate on the issues of the day. When in Washington he rejected the vicious partisanship that overtook the House during his tenure. He held to his high principles, consistently voted his conscience and worked in a genuinely bi-partisan way.

Process matters and it does directly affect the quality of the product we get. This is a general truism, and it is nowhere more pertinent than in our political process. If we want better government, we need thoughtful, honorable, respectful and wise people in government who will naturally conduct a better process. Throughout his career Jim Leach embodied these traits, practiced an enlightened political process, and upheld the highest values of public service. He has provided us with a role model for future candidates.

How to Unleash Our System

The all out partisan warfare that our political process has become does not serve anyone well. Those in power are stymied in their efforts; those out of power find the power of government used mercilessly against them. The cost of pursuing office has become so great that our representatives spend most of their time fundraising and become obligated to their financial backers. Anyone who does manage to rise in this environment has certainly compromised themselves to do so. And the nation is denied the services of a great many capable people who desire to serve but refuse to compromise themselves.

Worst of all, the very real and pressing issues we face are left twisting in the wind as vested interests deploy their political militias to kill off any efforts that might gore their oxes. Health care was an obvious issue twenty years ago and nothing has been done in all that time. Energy has been an obvious issue for thirty five years and nothing has been done. Even those issues that are dealt with end up being such a cobbled together mess of compromises that they create more problems than they solve. Medicare and education are two obvious examples. This is not an inherent trait of government solutions, as some might like to frame it. It is the consequence of a degraded political process that cannot accomplish its natural function.

Our system is capable of dealing with the issues we face and all the issues we will face in the future, but in order to do so it needs to be freed from the constraints that prevent it from functioning as it was meant to. There are several things that we can insist on that will unleash the natural vitality and creativity of our system:

1. Eliminate all money from politics except personal donations up to a limit of $5,000. No soft money, no PAC money, equal limits on committee and party donations.
   
2. Break up all media conglomerates and require an editorial firewall between entertainment and news divisions.
3. Require all media outlets to provide equal time to all qualified candidates for two months prior to general elections.
4. Ban personal attack ads and deliberate misrepresentations of public policy issues, and provide for injunctive relief, for six months prior to a general election.
5. Ban private lobbying and gifts to government officials beyond meals or other incidentals. All lobbying done in public forums.
   

The solution to the problem is ultimately in the hands of we the people. As long as we tolerate the situation it will continue, because there are vested interests that benefit in the short run from the status quo and are willing to spend the money it takes to maintain the status quo. Once we the people decide that this is no longer tolerable, it will stop.

Public Office is a Sacred Trust

The power to determine our lives is the property of each individual in society. In order to more effectively organize our common affairs, we give that power in trust to our representatives in government to formulate and administer government policies that will uphold our best interests and that of the common good.

When an elected or appointed government official accepts graft in any form, including PAC money, or otherwise sells the benefit of public policy to any individual or group or promotes the interests of any such individual or group to the detriment of his constituents or the common good, that representative has violated the sacred trust that he holds from his constituents.

Government officials such as Mr. Jefferson from Louisiana who betray their trust for money are the obvious ones. But ideologues and partisans such as Mr. Libby who do the same for their cause are no less guilty. They expropriate the power of government, given by the people in trust for the common good, to promote the interests of their financial backers and their partisan supporters. This should be considered the most egregious of all possible offenses for a government official and cause for great shame and ostracism. But looking out at the political field in 2007, it's hard to identify anyone who has not betrayed their trust in one way or another. So it is no wonder that in this environment Mr. Libby and his backers feel that he is the victim, or that Mr. Jefferson also claims to be a victim.

It is always darkest before the dawn, so we can hold out hope that we will somehow find our way out of depravity to a more enlightened political process and government. There are many elements in the formula for enlightened government, such as a general commitment to truth, service and mutual respect, but the first and biggest obstacle to real progress is the utterly corrosive influence of big money in political campaigns. For those who want to make a contribution to the greater good, there is no more pressing issue than this one.

Scooter Libby and Public Values

The sentencing of Scooter Libby provides an excellent study in the condition of our political process and the values of our political class. A large number of letters were received by the presiding judge urging leniency for Mr. Libby. These letters were by and large from senior Republican officials and other prominent Republicans. The general thrust of their argument was that Scooter was a good guy and an outstanding public servant. At the same time Mr. Libby's attorney made the argument that his transgressions were minor and not deserving of prison time. This argument was also heard in a loud chorus from Republican partisans outside the courtroom. Even our President and Vice President issued statements of sadness and regret for the conviction of this "fine man." The implication of this outpouring of sympathy being that he has been the victim of an injustice. Remarkably, many of these voices were the very same ones that savagely attacked Bill Clinton for his lies under oath.

Nowhere on the Republican side was there heard the lamentation that Scooter had disgraced his Republican brethren. Not heard was consignment of Scooter to his just fate for his crimes and more importantly for failing to uphold the honor required of a public servant, or for his poor example to the general public of blatant dishonesty by a high public official. These things were only heard from the Democrats. Of course if Mr. Libby was a Democrat the players would have simply reversed field.

The object lesson of this spectacle is that the values of our political elite have become severely degraded. Speaking the truth is not considered a requirement in public life today. Promoting partisan advantage takes priority and is valued over truthfulness and all other considerations. This does not go unnoticed by the general public or by young people, who are acutely aware of hypocrisy, take note of how our leaders actually behave regardless of what they say, and model their own behavior accordingly.

This is just one facet of a political culture steeped in non-truth. We cannot hope to come to grips with the large and increasingly intractable problems of our complex society while our political process is is in such a degraded state. Our leaders demonstrate daily that they are willing to lie, cheat, violate the law whenever it suits them and generally do whatever it takes to gain partisan advantage and excuse themselves and their fellow partisans for all such behaviour while condemning their opponents for same. How can we expect the general public to respect the law and strive for the high road when they see their leaders consistently taking the low road?

Politics doesn't have to be like this. Our political process is in such disrepair because we the people tolerate it. If we demanded honor, candor and service to the greater good from our public servants we would get it.

Time for an Allied Independent Party

Imagine if our public debate was actually a debate...if participants actually spoke to each other, instead of at each other, and addressed each other's points...maybe even thought about each other's points before dismissing and attacking them. Who knows what might result?

Liberals and conservatives; Republicans, Democrats and the unaffiliated all have something to offer the public debate and have a contribution to make to the formation of public policy. But in the current environment it is impossible for any real dialogue to take place that might lead to balanced policy. Instead we have two competing monologue's that don't interact with each other at all. Partisan extremism is the fashion, and partisans of both camps strive to outdo each other in the distortions and lies they level at each other and the falsehoods they promote about themselves. Spin they call it. They revel in this toxic soup of non-truth. No good can ever come from it.

This will continue until we the people put an end to it. Things will change when we finally refuse to vote for people who accept graft (PAC money), distort their own and their opponents intentions and records, and make public appeals to base emotion. There is a growing dissatisfaction with our political process but nothing will happen until that dissatisfaction shifts into action.

Perhaps it's time for an Allied Independent Party that transcends left-right polarization and rejects partisans and ideologues of all stripes. A useful resource is the libertarian Cato Institute, and an excellent starting point for a platform is the Natural Law Party platform.