TODD L BAUERLE.com

The Nation Divided

22 November 2004

By: Todd Bauerle

*Note*

This is a continuation of the E-pinion entitled "Why President Bush Won the Election" found here.

In four more years, the country will have a fresh start on presidential politics. It is doubtful Cheney will run for the office, opening the race to a slew of newcomers. The greatest task candidates will need to accomplish is unity in the country. George Bush’s extremely narrow win is characteristic of the country’s views that future campaigns need to take into consideration.

First it is clear that the nation is divided in two, split right down the middle. Those who support Bush, really support him. Those who oppose Bush, really oppose him. (Note the lack of Kerry supporters due to the unexciting nature of the candidate.) This election does not resolve this division in values; it widens it.

The successful political party in future elections needs to unite the country as well. Both the Republican and Democratic parties need to reform their platforms. Neither party speaks for the people or the everyman. Concurrently, the people need to research the parties’ ideologies. Here is a simple breakdown:

Issue

Republicans

Democrats

Business

Less government is better. Free competition is best, allowing the best company to become successful.

Downside: Best may be defined by economic power rather than quality of product

Companies and corporations need to be subject to government regulation to ensure ethical and fair business practices and prevent monopolies.

Downside: More government, laws, and red tape.

Society

Society is better off by promoting individual success defined by hard work. People should take care of themselves.

Downside: Those who have power block the success of others to further their own success. These barriers do not allow others to become successful nor promote mobility between classes.

Government has the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to lift up society, and help individuals become successful through social programs and elimination of barriers to success.

Downside: Taxpayer money generated from successful people is used to fund social programs and is problematic if people feel they do not need to help the poor.

Personal Values

Government has the responsibility of promoting the popular values of society, and promotes them through legislation.

Downside: More government in personal life. Minority values are not represented in politics and government positions foster discrimination against the minority.

Personal values are personal and government should take efforts to represent all values and treat people equally.

Downside: Requires tolerance of other’s views by the popular majority. Some may see minority values as devaluing their own beliefs.

Which of these parties speaks more towards the heart of America? Both parties have downsides and none is perfect. However if viewed through this lens, I believe the vast majority of Americans would be Democrats. The Democratic party needs to dispel the special interest factions that typify the party. In doing so, they will encompass more of America, especially those people who are turned off by the tree-hugging, pro-choice, environmentalist, feminist, anti-war wackos.

The successful candidate needs to bridge the gap between the parties and ideologies. The next president needs to unite the country, to speak to the core of America, to transcend political parties and ideologies. If they do not, this country will become more divided, less able to work together to solve real problems, and ultimately unravel the political process in this country. If that happens, the future of this country becomes questionable.

We The People

What we as a nation need to do is sift through the single issues that flood our political thinking. Each person needs to define his or her core values of what good government means. Note that moral values are not referenced, only what good government means to people. This doesn’t suggest that moral values be discarded, but deeply consider their place in government. This calls for a clear personal definition of government’s goals. Once defined, individuals must promote that type of government by voting for candidates fitting their good government profiles. This calls for eliminating partisan politics in favor of solving the problems at the local, state, and national level.

The elimination of partisan politics translates to the acceptance and understanding of ideas different from our own. This calls for an open mind in dealing with others and working to solve problems for the betterment of society. This is true national as well as globally. Will it happen?

Within our own country, this means more than Republicans and Democrats working together. Strictly speaking it involves the Religious Right laying down their prejudice and arrogant moral platitudes and the single-issue extremists to broaden their views in favor of a more total view of politics and the world.

Unfortunately, the division within the country shows the arrogance, ignorance, and unwillingness to cooperate of each side. Likewise, the power of the political machine continues to feed us and deflate political ideology down to fear and sound bites, crippling the people from crucially examining issues and working together. I hope I am wrong. I hope we all are.

- Todd