On Bipartisanship
“It is compromise that prevents each set of reformers…from crushing the group on the extreme opposite end of the political spectrum…there are few if any issues where all the truth and all the right and all the angels are on one side.” John F. Kennedy
As I have said before, I don’t think we are going to get health care reform done by bipartisanship. Not because I don’t honor the idea of bipartisanship; it is a noble desire, or at least it was at one time in history. I did not vote for one politician to be responsive to my will alone but rather because I hoped they had the capacity to exercise the kind of judgment that is in the best interests of the entire nation. That at times, requires the courage of dissent; the very thing that helped give birth to Protestantism (those “protestors”). Now I know some may quibble with that last comment saying politics and religion are separate realms. To them I say, “Wake up!” I make this suggestion because it has been my experience that the qualities it takes to question and stand against a religious entity are the some of the same qualities it takes to make unpopular decisions against the perceived wisdom of the constituents one represents. Sometimes the constituency is wrong particularly because we are constituents and not daily engaged in the nuts and bolts of politics. Are politicians answerable to their constituents? Yes. They will pay for their decisions by the power of the constituent vote. Unfortunately, this very reality is more respected by some politicians than the exercise of informed conscience. Indeed, some even lie about representing constituents when they are really only speaking for themselves unconcerned about the preponderance of evidence given them that suggests their position is contrary to national interests.
It seems to me that the intersection between the constituency and one’s conscience is the opportunity to accomplish compromise. This is not always wise nor doable, but where it can be done I think we are made better thereby.
My parents taught me that sometimes you can’t get everything you want. So ladies and gentlemen in Congress, stop irritating us! Be courageous. Do what’s right FOR THE COUNTRY!!!! It’s not going to be pretty; it’s not going to be bipartisan. It will involve some compromise and you may lose your job as a result. But damn it, take courage! Don’t worry about losing money. You’ll make up for it on the lecture circuit. Ask Sarah Palin.
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