Campaign 2012: Too Serious to be Silly Season

The primaries are over and in a few short weeks we will be voting in the general election. If this wasn’t such a serious endeavor at such a difficult time for our state and country, this election could be compared to the trades sports teams make at the end of their seasons; the silly season. And while all sides in this years election are using hyperbole to define their positions and that of their opponents, once we cut through the sludge, I believe clear choices emerge. 

Various groups of Republicans are making claims that Democrats are wrecking the economy and turning our country into a (pick one) socialist, communist, Muslim Sharia law society. 

Democrats claim that Republicans will throw the poor onto the streets, reduce wages and benefits for the middle class, and invade your personal lives.

As I understand it, Republicans state that it is the individual that should be able to trump local, state and federal laws, and that government should only function in a minimalist manner (if at all).

Again as I understand it, the Democrats feel we are all in this together. We are an extremely wealthy nation and we should be able to figure out how to provide opportunities for all those who are willing to contribute to our country’s assets.

Let’s take a look at the claims of both sides.

Both sides claim the Constitution supports their positions. Both sides claim the other side is and will continue to degrade our country. Is one side more truthful then the other? Does one side or both really want to damage our country? 

The Republicans claim that Democrats support big government. They say Democrats want the government to dictate every facet of your lives. From where you get your medical care, to where you go to school, to how much your employer has to pay you. They even claim that Democrats want the government to tell you what you can and can’t eat and how much.

While there is exaggeration, there is also some truth.

Republicans on the other hand as stated by the Democrats would take away hard earned protections for workers and minority. They would impose their religious beliefs on you. While touting opportunities for job growth they are taking funding away from the educational programs that are necessary to support those jobs. And they would let businesses deicide how much pollution is too much and how much work place safety is just right.

Again there’s some truth in these claims. And when we look at the extremes in each party there’s more truth in these claims then any of us should be comfortable with.

The fact of the matter is that with the exception of pure Libertarians both sides want to use government to impose their agendas on you. In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has championed a law that limits the size of soft drinks you can buy at fast food outlets. In New Hampshire, the Republican controlled House and Senate passed legislation that permits businesses to divert some of their taxes to aid parents in paying for religious education.

On the Democratic side we hear talk about restoring funding for programs that were severely cut during the last two years. Yet no one is telling us how it is all going to paid for.

On the Republican side they want to cut even more funding from state programs in the upcoming two years. We are told that the cornerstone of the Republican platform is jobs and attracting business, yet the cuts they have already made has made our state less attractive for businesses to come here. 

So what do I think? Where do I stand in this debate? I think on the whole that the Republicans are really determined to limit opportunities. I believe the Republicans who feel businesses should be unrestrained from government regulation have forgotten our county’s history. Robber Barons, industrial pollution, horrendous work place conditions for men, women and children. Limited opportunities for minorities and women. 

Yet it was government intervention that has helped remedy these issues. Are the remedies perfect? No. Can we do better? I hope so. But let’s remember many of our laws came about because of discrimination and abuses. To individuals, minorities, our environment and businesses and monopolies who forced out smaller start-ups (using any means necessary) who dared to compete with them. 

Are the Democrats perfect? Not even close. But on balance, I would prefer to have a party in power that promotes opportunity. I would prefer to have a party that believes that collectively we are a stronger nation when we work together with rules that treat all of us equally.

It seems to me that Republicans follow the mantra that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” to quote a George Orwell line from his book, "Animal Farm."

Bottom line here is that over the past decade plus, both parties have let us down. But if we are to move forward, it is necessary to look at which party at least expresses a desire to move us out of this morass. Staying with the same policies that got us where we are today makes no sense. And electing representatives who will continue or reinstate failed policies makes even less sense.

Before you go to the polls in November try and be the best informed voter you can be. There’s a lot of misinformation and outright lies out there. Just because someone says something on the radio or television or writes a blog doesn’t make it true.

Listen to both sides (or three sides). If you watch Fox News listen to NPR and read the New York Times and the Washington Post. If on the other hand you watch MSNBC, take the time to read the National Review, the Weekly Standard and the Wall Street Journal. Compare news reports, be a fact checker, and don’t believe everything you read on the Internet, even here. 

Remember this is our country. We all have a stake in it. Having more or less money, having greater or fewer connections, shouldn’t determine or limit your opportunities. Our Constitution opens with: 

"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure the domestic Tranquility, to provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The first three words are "We the People." Not some of the people, or only the rich people, or those with business interests. So when you go to vote in November try and vote for candidates who are willing to represent We the People, and not just some of the their friends, business interests or fat cat contributors. Sharing the costs of a civil society and providing equal opportunities to achieve success are the hallmarks that will allow us to continue to be the great nation our founders envisioned.