Democracy Is Working With People
You Don’t Agree With
To Achieve
What You Both Want

Don’t be fooled by the fact that we just had an election.

it is true that elections are the foundational component in a democratic society. The vote represents the voice of every single person. Individuals vote for the candidates who represent them and they choose those candidates based on the political issues they plan to push, the legislation they intend to introduce.

But that’s not the end of the process. It’s only the beginning.

The fact is we usually pick candidates based on their political views, the issues they intend to support and promote while in office. But the issues are not the issue. It’s also not whether they will keep their campaign promises.

Campaign promises let us know where the candidate stands but we all know that promises are subject to the interactions of law makers in the course of doing their jobs.

The real question is will the candidate I choose be able to negotiate fairly with political peers to get things done? Not will they do everything they said they will do but will they be emotionally mature enough to recognize a good trade off when they see it? Are they wise enough to work with others to get the best possible deal?

We’re learning more and more that what a candidate promises and what they’re able to get done are two different things.

And that should be expected. Candidates come from different places are each working toward different goals. To expect each candidate to achieve their every promise is naive and senseless.

When it comes to politics, middle ground – which is essentially a compromise – is the best you can possibly achieve. It’s the place where both sides get something.

That’s the issue. That’s the democratic process. Elections are necessary but they aren’t enough. The democratic process needs to be well oiled and well used for legislation to move forward in an acceptable manner.

So that means there are two considerations. There’s the vote and that’s where the public engages. Then there’s the legislative process where the elected candidates do their job to work with all other parties to arrive at agreeable legislative solutions.

We call that the democratic process and it isn’t happening so much these days.

Autocrats don’t get it. [Read more…] about Democracy Always Beats Autocracy

The Best Idea
Is Openly And Diligently Debated
And Eventually Agreed To
By All Parties

This article is focused on what used to be the entrenched two party system in the US. I’m not suggesting we change the system. I’m suggesting it’s slowly morphed into something very different.

We lived with it for many years and, in spite of its flaws, it served us acceptably well. But all that’s been changed.

Reasonable Debate No Longer Applies

What used to happen between the Democratic and Republican forums – debate the issues until acceptable middle ground is agreed upon – is no longer at play and hasn’t been for a while.

Starting at least with Richard Nixon, Republicans began using tactics that could only be tagged as treason. Nixon’s Watergate scandal is common knowledge but that wasn’t his worst infraction. Nixon’s interference in the Vietnam peace talks isn’t talked about as much or known as widely but it far outweighs the criminality of Watergate. Both instances, however, shine a light on what was to come.

His motive in both cases was to win the presidency at any cost.

Things have gotten worse. Republicans are no longer interested in rational debate. They will do anything to win an election.

Nixon was shamed out of office once his true character came to the surface. Now, Republicans act out and dare anyone to question it. [Read more…] about It’s No Longer About Democrats And Republicans