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.

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.

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.