We need to tread carefully, as left-wing Dems, Progressive and other kindred souls. While the Tea Party model has become a model for new Progressive groups, including a respectable and highly-regarded group here, where I live, we need to temper our white-hot rage against Republicans’ outrageous over-reach in recent years, and their common illegitimate practices, from labeling anyone who disagrees with them a foul name, to voting for their donors’ interests instead of outcomes that benefit citizens. Specifically, there ARE still some Republicans who are trying hard to be sensible politicians, despite their Party’s general practice of trying to rule at all costs. When we tarnish everyone, we also tarnish those who are still trying to do good, even within the Republican Party.
I have recently watched some local groups attributing sinister motives to Republican’s legitimate concerns, and the over-reaction was barely contained by the leadership. They drew a line against name-calling and other over-the-top behaviors, but when we are so angry that we allow ourselves to descend into behaviors more often characteristic of the worst elements of the oppositiony, we can inspire compensatory white-hot rage from them, and even from our own fellow-travelers. That way lies failure.
“Democracy” comes from the Greek/Latin for “people decide.” But that is not license to subject others to the same excesses they have themselves perpetrated. Our justice system remains neutral, for example, and our best judges try to ensure that facts are revealed, without subjecting people to being reviled. It is one of our best practices in the nation that we abhor those justices who let their emotions override their capacity to reason. Yet, there are still ideologues who believe that these excessive behaviors are acceptable...often as a consequence of their personal core beliefs...and they are outraged when their inappropriate decisions lead to a reversal of their judicial outcomes.
I grew up in the era of “comity,” when Democrats and Republicans often disagreed, and used that as impetus to find “common ground,” instead of engaging in hostility. It was, in my judgement, Senator McCarthy, whose widespread and inept labeling of anyone who disagreed with his view of proper political behavior as “Communist!” that started this abhorrent practice of isolating oneself from comity, and to the belief and certainty that one is right, by dint of being a member of a particular political party. Many on the right have taken those early lessons of how the right treats the left to heart, and that, too, has become white hot rage against anyone who deigns to disagree with their decisions.
That, in turn, has led the Republican party through a transmogrification into the self-serving, manipulation it now holds so dear...including the ultimate act of refusing to do their congressional jobs because one of their leaders decided that it was the Republicans’ responsibility to make a duly elected Democrat a “one-term President,” in their self-deceiving pique, and long-term ascension of the belief that they, only, deserve the power to rule our Country. The result of the arc of that kind of self-delusion has been the lack of honesty, candor and humility in the entire slate of their Presidential candidates, resulting in the election of a man to President to whom they are now harnessed like a plow, sanctioning his every ignorant move as if it is the epitome of beneficence.
Should we ardent Democrats, Progressives, and other left-wing citizens follow this course of emulation...because it seems to work so well for the other side...we will be contributors to the demise of Democracy in our beloved Country.
Instead, we need to be the leaders of a return to comity, to collaboration, to mutual respect, not because it is “better,” but because our humanity says we can. History will judge our responses to the provocations we’ve experienced: We need to demonstrate, and reason, and resist...and, at the same time show the grace to recognize that while “the other sides’ behavior” might win them battles, is the outcome they will eventually reap worth facilitating? We will be honored as saviors of Democracy, or progenitors of its’ collapse. We need to be the adults in the room.
“Both sides do it” the cry of the disconnected people who are chronologically no longer children, but whose mental and reasoning skills have been blunted by misguided “leaders.” There is right and wrong in this world. Should we emulate our opponents tactics, we risk being as responsible for the undesirable outcomes as are those who’ve already abandoned pretense of the legitimate ability to govern. We must win because we are more human, more humane, more reasoning and more accommodating of those who can still join us in dialogue about how to arrive at solutions that deliver outcomes in the best interests of our people, our Communities, and our Political jurisdictions, not merely in the interest of our particular party, or the petty gratification of having “defeated” the other side. As we now see, that way lies madness, and the illogical behavior of the very citizens who, in their anger, risk all because some other people hold different values from their own. We have to be the adults in the room, and seek common interests by asking questions, encouraging comity, and seeking opportunities to improve the lot on both sides of the political divide.
It is not as easy as coming from anger, but it is--inevitably—the only way out of this divisive approach to governance to which we are now subject. The question, I raise is clear.
Which is more important: “A healthy and collaborative nation, working out its’ problems in the sunshine together,” or the satisfaction of having “beaten that SoB into submission?” Should we be seeking outcomes that benefit more people, or accepting the personal satisfaction in having “won” the debate...at the cost of comity? The former is achievement; the latter, mere self-gratification.
Right at this moment, I observe one group of citizens labeling “winning” to be preferable, even to the point of extinction of their unity and our democracy, and another believes “collaborating” is the only way forward toward a nation worthy of the name. One group castigates, blames, obscures, punishes and sneers; the other pursues common goals, congratulates, illuminates, rewards and cheers.
Are we willing to move toward the higher ground in the pursuit of our Founders’ lofty goals? Does that strengthen us, or make us weaker?
For myself, I will seek to execute George Lakoff’s dictum: “Without Care there is no Democracy.”
Will you join me?
Respectfully,
Carol Anne
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