Friday October 26, 2012
So We're Electing a New President
We're about two weeks away from the election and it looks like the two contenders, President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney are neck and neck in the race for the Presidency. But I'm wondering what's going to happen after the election. This has been, by most accounts, one of the most derisive and polarizing election cycles in memory. It has been a long time since our country has been characterized by two political parties that are so far apart philosophically, not to mention on the major issues.
To make matters worse, as neutral fact-checking organizations have clearly indicated, there has been a basal lack of honesty and, perhaps, integrity, not to mention seemingly willful intent to mislead by both candidates when it comes to their records, their performance, and their positions. The American people, many of whom lack the resources and/or, in some cases, the knowledge or even intellectual capability to understand some of the complex issues that are being debated in this electoral cycle, are often being swayed by purely rhetorical gestures, many of which are being distributed via a form of propaganda-like websites, email campaigns, Twitter postings, and Facebook pages. Often, over the past few months, I've come across people, representing a broad range of demographics, who ardently espouse positions on the candidates or the politics of their respective parties. But when I ask why they have taken that position or on what basis they have drawn their conclusions, I find that their contentions are frequently backed up by only guttural and occasionally racial or demeaning opinions and characterizations that refer to a particular candidate's race, religion, or spouse. These people are almost never well-versed or even conversational about the real issues or the conditions that lead up to and influence the situations that we find ourselves in today.
And that's sad. That's not what America should be about. As ugly a picture as this situation portends, it pales in comparison to what is likely to occur after the election. Independent of who wins, the new President will be faced with a Congress that is deeply divided on the issues. For much of the past four years, the current Democratic President has been blockaded by the obstructionist practices of the Republican congressional contingent. If Gov. Romney wins the November election, it is safe to assume that the Democratic fraction of our deeply divided Congressional branch will take on a similar strategy, particularly when it comes to certain "family jewel" issues like health care and Medicare. Unless we take a deeply analytical look at how our Government works (or doesn't work, as the case may be), we will be eternally relegated to a virtual ping pong game of political maneuvering. Unless and until the political parties come together and reach a consensus agreement to get something done, our government will functionally fail to perform. And if we're looking for a scapegoat to blame for why things are the way they are, we need to stop looking at a particular candidate or party and take a close look at the political machine that no longer works in the way that our founding fathers had intended.
So what can we, as Americans, do to try to change this environment? I don't have "the corner" on all the solutions, but maybe I can offer some insights:
1. Ignore the propoganda
Even when it comes in the form of a "joke" - recognize propaganda as an evil tool that is meant to divide us and prevent us from moving forward. Ask people who send it to you to stop. Slander is not funny. Racism is not funny. Bigotry is not funny. Zealotry and fanaticism are not funny. These things are hurtful and dividing. We need to come together as a nation, not seek mechanisms to divide us.
2. Demand accountability
People and companies that contribute large sums of money to political campaigns should be publicly accountable for those donations. Candidates (or those who comment on their positions) should be publicly and openly accountable for the accuracy of their statements.
3. Just the facts
News outlets need to report the news, not create it. Any time a news network develops a reputation for being "left-leaning" or "right-leaning" it's a sure-fire indication that something is very, very wrong.
4. Don't make comments out loud that you wouldn't make to Mom
I know it sounds glib, but civility has gone by the wayside in America and it needs to be brought back. We must relearn how to be respectful in discourse. We must relearn how to be good listeners. We must relearn how to handle conflict in a respectful and contemplative way. We must understand that others have viewpoints that may not match our own and, when that happens, it's a learning opportunity and shouldn't trigger Friday Night at the Fights.
5. Put every egg at your disposal into the "Education basket"
We're losing the war folks. Our educational system is in disarray. We are dumbing-down our educational system to make sure that nobody gets "left behind" and, in the process, leaving everyone behind. Secondary education is less of an issue, but at the primary level, we are in trouble. We need high standards, we need to make sure that kids do not get advanced if they don't learn the material. We need to strive for 100% literacy in English in this country. We must demand excellence and we have to train, pay, recognize, and equip teachers for the role they play -- arguably, the most important role (other than Mom or Dad) in turning a young child into a productive adult.
6. Put the shoe on the other foot - don't shoot from the hip
Before any of us take a strong position for or against anyone or anything, we should all take a step back and put the shoe on the other foot. We should ask the question: "If I was standing in their shoes, how would I want to be treated right now? What would I want me to know? What are the conditions that caused this person or thing to be the way it is?" Knowledge is power. It always has been and it always will be. The more we know about a situation, the more likely it is we can evaluate and react appropriately.