Are Democrats Really So Lame?

Kudos to Salon's Joan Walsh for her brilliant review of Matt Bai's "The Argument" entitled "Are Democrats really so lame?" This tour de force puts our current political battles in (modern) historical perspective and highlights the real issues confronting us, which are easy to forget in the midst of the shouting match/spin fest that passes for political debate these days.

I haven't read Bai's book yet, but Walsh's review is essential reading for anyone wanting to clarify for themselves what the current political war is all about.

Primitive Politics

It seems that America is transfixed in a polarized state. We no longer know what "liberal" and "conservative" mean. They certainly no longer mean what they did ten years ago, considering that a so-called conservative administration has just run up the greatest deficit in history and waged two wars on borrowed money, and the previous so-called liberal administration severed millions from the public dole and opened our borders to job plundering by global corporations. But no matter. Whatever liberal and conservative mean, even if they are opposite of what we think they mean, we're certain that one or the other are nefarious and a threat to the republic.

We have fallen into a primitive state, a tribal mentality in which "we" are the good guys and the "others" are the bad guys. It matters not one whit if the reasons we are good and they are bad change regularly or even reverse from time to time. The fact is that since we are "we," and they are "they," then "we" will always be "good" and "they" will be "bad." Bad being worthless hateful scum deserving of all manner of terrible consequences just for being alive. If they are far enough away, we can even kill them, celebrating our righteousness as we do so. If they are too close to home, then we limit ourselves to undermining and discrediting them.

We need to be careful though. The constant demonization of your neighbor is a toxic seed that can bear frightful consequences. Before this downward cycle of polarization is done, I would not be surprised to see political violence in America. It would be far better for all of us if we realized that we have been duped by demagogues, reject the whole business of political polarization and look to the principles of unity to guide us.

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.

Christians Who Wage War

From the beginning, the most steadfast supporters of the war in Iraq have been people who identify themselves as Christians. This is a marvel to me. It was Jesus after all who gave up his own life without a fight, and forbade Peter to defend him, saying "He who lives by the sword dies by the sword." It was Jesus who taught "Behold, I send you forth as sheep among the wolves," and "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."

Those who consider themselves Christians should give some attention to the actual teachings of the Master and less to those who teach in his name. I have seen and heard in public forums numerous perversions of Jesus' teachings using selected quotes taken out of context to justify this war. No honest reading of the teachings of Jesus can justify war on any account, much less an invasion of a foreign land. True Christians, those who follow the teachings of Jesus, would be the last to support any war.

We live in a time of political depravity, when public values and the general behaviour and aspirations of humanity are in decay. Kali yuga they call it in India. So it is no surprise in such a time that demagogues pervert the teachings and very purpose of religion to justify their lust for power, vengeance and war. Those of us who desire a more just world can do little on the macro scale, but we can hold up the truth for others to see, and perhaps by so doing inspire others to do the same. In time a critical mass will be reached and things will begin to change for the better on the macro scale.

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.

Summer Reading

A new title by Bryan Caplan, entitled "The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies" promises excellent summer reading and fodder for future discussion. I'm ordering my copy today.

From the introduction, it appears that Caplan's chief complaint is that voters are irrational; a common complaint from economists. It is inconvenient for them that humans are both rational and irrational. Their formulas can't accommodate the irrational part. He proposes that the preferred alternative to democracy is not dictatorship, but unfettered markets. Seems to me like we're already there.

This book should create a stir. I'm looking forward to it.

Condolences to Andrew Bacevich

Since 9/11 Andrew Bacevich, an officer and a gentleman, has been an outspoken opponent of the neo-con agenda of global domination by military force, the policy of "pre-emptive war" and in particular the war in Iraq. He has taken on this role out of genuine concern for the wellbeing of America and for the U.S. military. It is the ultimate irony that he should lose his son to this war. You can read his lamentation in today's Washington Post.

For those with an interest in learning the evolution of U.S. foreign policy and in particular the use of war as an instrument of that foreign policy, Professor Bacevich's "The New American Militarism: How Americans are Secuced by War" is an essential read.