Some Things in Politics Still Matter
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"R epublicrats," loosely translated, means "a pox on both your houses." It is a colloquialism that expresses the frustration of people for whom politics as it is practiced today is supercilious to the interests of working people.
Last Saturday, a woman at the sign-in table for a North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting was passing out stickers that said "Proud to be a Democrat." Given the mood of the people outside the Greensboro Marriott, I wasn't sure whether I was more proud to be a Democrat or chagrined to be a Republicrat.
Beverly Perdue understands. The governor stunned the party with her announcement that she would not seek a second term, citing the toxic culture of partisan politics as a primary reason for stepping aside. Outside the Sanford-Hunt-Frye Dinner, she lamented, "I've never seen such rabid partisanship. I've never seen such divisiveness."
She's right. Politics has become a scorched-earth battlefield where compromise is regarded as weakness and cooperation as treason.
Consider Richard Morgan, who was sacked by his own party for his willingness to share leadership of the N.C. House of Representatives. The new normal is U.S. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, demonstrating his contempt for the president by appearing uninterested and texting during an address delivered to a joint session of Congress.
It's Mitch McConnell declaring, "The single most important thing we (congressional Republicans) want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
The top priority of the minority leader of the United States Senate, as the country struggles through a deep recession, is not to lead, not to legislate, not to put people back to work, but to stifle the best efforts of the president to lead us out of the morass we find ourselves in.
There is no loyal opposition anymore, only mortal enemies. Public service has lost its luster. Fewer exceptional people are willing to wade into the cesspool we've made of government. Good people are dropping out, leaving - Republicrats. In a process where everyone is tainted and little is accomplished, does it really matter what side you're on?
It matters.
It matters that, according to an Elon University poll, six out of 10 North Carolinians would rather pay an extra penny in sales tax than see further cuts to public education.
It matters that the governor vetoed a law that had the potential to disenfranchise 460,000 qualified North Carolinian voters - most of them minorities, students or the elderly - in the name of a law designed to fix a problem that doesn't exist.
It matters that The North Carolina Association of Educators will be able to keep its primary source of funding.
It matters that the nation's financial system was stabilized when it was on the verge of collapse.
It matters that 68,500 GM employees and 51,600 Chrysler employees still have jobs, that the vast majority of their companies' debts are paid, and the American auto industry thrives after it was counted out just three years ago.
It matters that two wars that cost trillions of dollars and thousands of lives are coming to an end.
It matters that 32 million more Americans will have health insurance and some protection against rising health care costs because of the Affordable Care Act.
Beside the entrance to the main ballroom at the Executive Committee meeting, there was a table with a sign that read "LGBT Democrats," where two people passed out cards urging committee members to vote "yes" to charter the organization.
The vote, taken just a few hours later, came as a pleasant surprise. It wasn't that the charter was approved. It wasn't even that, in a group of several hundred people, it passed unanimously. Rather, it was the unbridled enthusiasm with which the charter passed - garnering the largest standing ovation of a generally enthusiastic day.
It matters that one party stands up enthusiastically for the last group of law-abiding citizens that may be legally discriminated against in this country.
I lament that our country continues to be among the last developed countries to provide health care for all of its citizens.
I'm offended that we would cut aid to those who can least afford it to perpetuate a deflated tax rate for those who can best afford it.
I regret every shortfall and misstep that has made my party appear Republicrat. In time, this country may choose a course that yields us better options. Until that day, I am proud to be a Democrat.
Kevin Smith lives in Aberdeen. Contact him at kevinasmith@gmx.com.
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Comments
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 3 months ago
This article lost its point as soon as the phrase bev perdue understands was written.
JimHeim 1 year, 3 months ago
Thanks to Bev Perdue, North Carolina is one of the few states with a AAA rating. Thanks to Republicans in the general assembly, we're 49th in education spending per pupil. I'll go with Bev's ideas.
DaveyNC 1 year, 3 months ago
Oh boy. Where to start?
Perdue's quote: "I've never seen such rabid partisanship. I've never seen such divisiveness." She's never seen it because for her entire life the Dems held the reins of state government. Neither she nor any other Dem ever had to contend with people with a different view of how government should be run. Instead of seeking the much sought after compromise, she has decided to get out. Further proof that the Dems (and, to be fair, the Reps') idea of compromise is the other guy abandoning his principles.
This: "Fewer exceptional people are willing to wade into the cesspool we've made of government. " And yet, we have one now, Mitt Romney. By any measure, Romney has been a wildly successful private citizen. Private sector success, non-profit sector success and public sector success. He should be riding a wave of popularity but is hated and distrusted by the Left and at best is accepted by middle of the road Dems and Reps. You lament the unwillingness of exceptional people to wade in. Here is one. Will you support him?
This: "It matters that, according to an Elon University poll, six out of 10 North Carolinians would rather pay an extra penny in sales tax than see further cuts to public education." I agree. Education is essential. But we already pay a lot to support it and so far, our return ain't great. Our politicians have lost our trust in their ability to use the money we send them wisely. It's up to them to get it back. The days of just writing a check for whatever they say they want are over. There is nothing evil in wanting to see our money properly used.
This: "It matters that the governor vetoed a law that had the potential to disenfranchise 460,000 qualified North Carolinian voters - most of them minorities, students or the elderly - in the name of a law designed to fix a problem that doesn't exist." Really? http://goo.gl/feJg9 http://goo.gl/YjO17 http://goo.gl/AVsiF Agreed, it's not a big problem but it does exist. And, after all, isn't the purpose of fraud to conceal itself? We need to trust that our elections are on the level and that those who present themselves to vote are who they say they are. Chicago has had many an election decided by the deceased.
Oops. Too long. See next post.
DaveyNC 1 year, 3 months ago
Part two
Not sure what you are talking about here: "It matters that The North Carolina Association of Educators will be able to keep its primary source of funding." But, if this funding is dependent on taxpayer funding, count me out. A union that is properly functioning shouldn't need taxpayer support. I admit that I don't really get your point here.
Agreed: "It matters that the nation's financial system was stabilized when it was on the verge of collapse." The bailouts, as distasteful as they were, worked. The follow-up, though, has been horrendous. Along with those bailouts, the President should have demanded the resignations of those bank CEO's. Why were those guys allowed to stay in place? And the stimulus was little more than the typical, if oversized, post-election payola that both parties dole out immediately upon their accession to control of the public treasury.
Eh. Mixed bag, at best: "It matters that 68,500 GM employees and 51,600 Chrysler employees still have jobs, that the vast majority of their companies' debts are paid, and the American auto industry thrives after it was counted out just three years ago." Most of those jobs would have been saved, regardless. Those two companies would have been bought out and continued to operate. In fact, Chrysler was bought out, first by an evil private equity group before the crash and then later by Fiat. Worse, in "rescuing" GM, the Administration abrogated centuries of the rule of law. I maintain that what Obama did to GM's bondholders was a direct cause of our the slowness of the economic recovery. Lenders saw that and, smartly, took a step back. This is an object lesson in the risks of rule by governmental whim. No one on either side of the aisle will take it that way.
Agreed: "It matters that two wars that cost trillions of dollars and thousands of lives are coming to an end." I just hope that we are truly finished and not getting out to satisfy some artificial campaign promise. Otherwise, we may have to go back.
DaveyNC 1 year, 3 months ago
Part three, last one
Not: "It matters that 32 million more Americans will have health insurance and some protection against rising health care costs because of the Affordable Care Act." 32 million more Americans will be required to have health insurance. That doesn't mean that all will do that. There is nothing, not one thing, in the ACA that reduces costs. Politicians confuse "paying less" with "reducing costs". We see this every year when payments to providers are cut 20-some percent and the restored with a "Doc fix". Just because a guy with a spreadsheet in Washington looks at the cost of a particular procedure and decides to pay less for it does not reduce the cost of that procedure. It merely reduces the amount the almighty Government will pay for it. And, oh, by the way? Where are we gonna get all the new doctors we will need to care for those additional 32 million people? The ACA does not address that. This will create higher demand for services. Econ 101 tells us that when demand goes up, so do prices. Already, insurance and medical costs have accelerated and the administration realized quickly that they had to issue well over 1,000 waivers to the Act affecting millions of employees. If the ACA is working, why is that necessary? Further, the ACA hindered the economic recovery because, even now, nobody really knows how much cost it will add to employers. And don't even get me started on what this mess of a bill does to the size of our already oversized government. See this PDF: http://goo.gl/nxZoR
Kevin, the answer is not always government intervention. My view is that in many cases, government needs to get out of the way. Housing, healthcare, education, finance, welfare programs---these are all areas of our society that have heavy governmental involvement and all are failing us in one way or another. Housing is a mess, healthcare (or at least the cost of it) is a mess, education is a political football, the world of finance (Wall Street) has figured out that those guys in Washington will sell them whatever favors they want to buy, and the War on Poverty has been going on since I was in the first grade with no end in sight. Only a fool looks at that record and says, "Yep, gotta keep doing things this way."
Not me. I want our government to shrink. Last week, President Obama declared that "We are our brother 's keeper." And he intends to use force of law to enforce that. That's not being someone's keeper. That's being someone's vassal.
Damn, too long. Had other things to do today.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 3 months ago
Davey wow, well spoken
alladat1 1 year, 3 months ago
Hey Davey - Publish your "book" and see if anyone buys it.
blake 1 year, 3 months ago
Bravo, DaveyNC, bravo.
Bentpan 1 year, 3 months ago
DaveyNC Excellent rebuttal to Mr Smiths' liberal hatchet piece.
MikeNC 1 year, 3 months ago
And I'm proud to be a Conservative Republican, Kevin, and Pray to God Obama is a one Term President and that Republicans will take charge of both the House and Senate in 2012 and get our Country back on course before the Democrats drive us over the cliff. Diane
fugitiveguy 1 year, 3 months ago
"a law that had the potential to disenfranchise 460,000 qualified North Carolinian voters - most of them minorities, students or the elderly -" ahhhhhhhbullshirt!!
fugitiveguy 1 year, 3 months ago
Bev is out because she had NO CHANCE, period.
TreadLightly 1 year, 3 months ago
DavyNC, you said it all.
Bentpan 1 year, 3 months ago
'alladat1 22 hours, 14 minutes ago Hey Davey - Publish your "book" and see if anyone buys it." On this thread alladat it's looking like a BESTSELLER.
nothingspecial 1 year, 3 months ago
DaveyNC, so well said. Disagree though about the way these two wars are being ended in ways that will ruin what service members have fought for and help millions of allies in those countries think twice about siding with us again if they survive the next few years.
Mr. Smith, you'd make a great divorce attorney, singing the praises of your client and asking the jury to forget everything that led up to Republicans becoming so called "mortal enemies" of this administration.
Bentpan 1 year, 3 months ago
DaveyNC has the author on the ropes, delivering lefts and rights at will with Smith powerless to respond. The Ref. is about to call the fight when wdd101st steps in with a haymaker that sends him halfway across the ring and to the canvass and Smith never even hears the 10 count.
fugitiveguy 1 year, 3 months ago
Despite the numerous examples given here of actual cases of voter fraud the liberals on here will not budge on their phony and detestable accusations regarding race and age based voter supression. More likely they will just fade away for a few days. You would think at least one would step forward and acknowledge their position is completely without merit.
nothingspecial 1 year, 3 months ago
We need a True the Vote team here in Moore County to at least ensure voting happens legally here.
http://www.truethevote.org/
DaveyNC 1 year, 3 months ago
Kevin, how do you judge the success of your investments? I judge them by the return that I get. If I put X amount of money in, I want to get X+ back. I mean, that is what investing is, right? So, how then should we evaluate this "investment": http://goo.gl/UeT1q
Then of course, there is the ongoing clusterf---s that are the alternative energy projects funded by the Obama Adminstration; you know, Solyndra, Beacon Energy and now Fisker Automotive: http://goo.gl/9a7Df
One of the things that we should expect of our elected officials is that they will be good stewards of our resources. Can you legitimately state that this colossal blunder with the public's money was properly managed? It was only properly managed from the point of view that it accomplished its true aim. It helped to ensure the continued flow of money into Democratic campaign coffers.
DaveyNC 1 year, 3 months ago
There is an unending supply of these kinds of stories: http://goo.gl/Z5REA
You want more government? This is where we are headed. Southern Pines will probably get there first.