11.07.12

I try not to post too much political commentary here because, often, Left or Right, it can be tedious, it can alienate people of good will who hold differing views, and, unless there is some level of mutual respect, it can often devolve into mudslinging. Having said that, a few thoughts on last night's results...

First, I've only seen a couple of Facebook friends make juvenile, derogatory comments on their walls and such; the few who did, well, it speaks poorly of them. I do believe that most people, Left or Right, operate out of good will, make their choices and decisions based upon what they believe is in their, and our nation's, best interests. Folks who lean Right often are just as incensed over government interfering in economic issues as folks on the Left are over social issues. Good people can disagree without being (too!) disagreeable.

As to the election itself... I was far more surprised that Scott Brown lost than that President Obama won re-election. Brown represented Bay Staters- all Bay Staters- well, and was a sorely-needed voice of bi-partisanship and cooperation in Washington. Time will tell if Liz Warren will equally represent all, will equally be willing to reach and work across the aisle.

The overall results tell me a few things. This is a very divided nation, in terms of representation as well as ideology. Which isn't always a bad thing; division between the Clinton Admin and Congressional Republicans resulted in deficit reduction and robust economic growth in the mid/late 90's. But there was some willingness then to work together (see welfare reform as an example) for the betterment of the nation. Currently there seems to be very little; the Obama Admin unwilling to work with the GOP House, and vice versa. The biggest issue that remains unaddressed is the ever-expanding deficit and debt. We cannot sustain the course that we are on. In much of Europe we are seeing what happens when deficit spending far outstrips revenues, the corrosive effects that has upon economic growth. And we seem to be on the road to that. At some point the bill will come due. Barring a miracle I won't be around for that, but many/most reading this are looking at another 20-30 earning years. And your kids... Claire and Pat, prepare to pay up! Some will say "tax the wealthy more, make them pay their 'fair share.'" We already have a graduated income tax in this nation; the rates upon the wealthy are already higher than those on other income groups, and they contribute disproportionately more of a percentage of income taxes. The so-called "Buffett Rule" would only be a drop in the bucket in terms of revenues produced. Some say it's about "fairness" however they choose to define that. I've yet to have anyone explain to me how allowing someone to keep more of what they have earned takes a cent out of my, or anyone else's, pocket. Fairness should be about treating everyone equally under the law; liberalism's greatest success was arguably it's role in civil rights, ending laws that treated people differently based upon race, religion, gender, more recently sexual orientation (sadly, they gave some of that back with the introduction of affirmative action laws, the creation of thought crimes, etc... legislation that treats people differently because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc...) Yet many liberals fail to see the division they sow when they engage in class and economic warfare, seeking to create laws that treat, and ultimately punish, people differently based upon their earnings. And when we create a nation when a bare minority pay little-to-nothing in income taxes yet are eligible for tax-funded personal entitlements (these go beyond the things all citizens, rich and poor, benefit directly from, such as national defense, public safety, roads, bridges, and similar infrastructure, education) especially ones that we have to borrow in order to pay for, of course there will be division.

And ultimately that's what it has come down to- division. No one side, no one ideology, has a lock on virtue or vice.  The best we can, or at least should, do is to leave people free to pursue fulfillment, personal or economic, to treat all people equally under the law, and to have a government that lives within it's means and treats it's citizens as adults.