September 2, 2004:  Side-Show Politics and the Art of Distraction 

So these past weeks I have been watching the ongoing shenanigans of the Democratic and Republican parties.  What a mess this whole façade, known as presidential policies has become.  The amount of discourse today on issues that really matter is eerily quiet, while we watch body blow after body  blow thrown at Kerry and Bush over the actions, or lack of actions, during the Vietnam War.  The sound from the issues that should matter to all Americans, you know, outsourcing, healthcare, immigration, the long-term viability of social security, education, our deteriorating infrastructure, the actual war on terror with Osama Bin Laden, are nothing more than crickets chirping in a still night.  Go ahead, listen for anyone really discussing these issues, and the silence will put you to sleep better than any glass of warm milk.  Indeed, the only thing we hear is a chorus of “did not” “did too” Phony Medals” “AWOL” “Traitor to the Troops” . . .  Unless and until we all stop pointing and shouting at each other and try to listen to what the other side has to say, I fear that we will continue down this path of political theater confuses public service and public policy with those voices that twist the truth and scream the loudest  

I will admit that a couple of years I gave some money to MoveOn.org.  MoveOn.org was found, in part, due to the Republican Party’s obsession with Bill Clinton, and his famous finger wagging denial of sexual relations with “that” woman.  I personally did not care that much about the whole thing, but others lived by it.  In the process they demonized Clinton, his family, his administration, and anyone who happened to wear a blue dress.   Lord knows, they never took the time to look at themselves in the mirror, because if they had, they would have probably attacked themselves based upon their pious absolutism.  After this farce played out, I thought that it was about time that the Democrats got into the game, and gave the Republicans as good as they got.  In hindsight, I think that was a mistake.  I think, in part, much of the problems from this election can be traced to the exceptions found in the McCain-Feingold campaign financing laws, and the truck that “527” groups have driven right through the law’s heart and soul.  I think if possible, things are even worse now, with surrogates fighting the battles the candidates used to wage, using the cover of allegedly impartiality to justify their extreme messages and rhetoric. 

Anyone who has seen some of the MoveOn.org ads knows that they are very aggressive, not just recounting clear problems and failings of the Bush Administration, but taking it a step further, and drawing an analogy between Bush and Adolph Hitler.   OK, I do not like George Bush, but Hitler, that is offensive and is fear mongering at its best.   While MoveOn.org did disavow the ad (which is more than George Bush would ever do) the fact remains that the ad was created and publicized under a contest they promoted.  MoveOn.org's posted rules for the contest said it would not "post anything that would be inappropriate for television, but other than that, what you put in your ads is up to you".   Yet, this ad was in fact posted.  Disavow or not, MoveOn.org must take some responsibility for this message getting out, and the comparison of Hitler and Bush being publicized.  

Meanwhile, these fools on the “Swift boat Veterans for Truth” group distort, misconstrue and misrepresent statements and actions of John Kerry both during and after the Vietnam war, and tar him as a traitor.  Yet, they support President Bush, who, like most Americans, did everything they could to avoid going to Vietnam.   Personally, I feel both are out of line, but that the attacks on Kerry have become so visceral and personal, and so inaccurate, that they would make me laugh if they did not make me want to cry.   Had Kerry been a Republican, who volunteered for duty in Vietnam, saved a fellow soldier, and then been wounded,  he would be wrapped in the flag and foisted on us like he was the second coming.  But, he is a Democrat who served in Vietnam, so he must be destroyed.  The hypocrisy of all of these is making me more and more angry.  

Enough Already.   Will someone please stop all of the yelling and finger pointing for just a minute and tell me what you really think.  Jesus, if this much energy was spent on our real problems perhaps we would have a viable alternative to foreign oil by now, higher literacy rates, lower crime rates, and better race relations.  No, those are actual issues, and require a moment of quiet consideration and thought before one responds.  These issues are not easy, and so, they are ignored, because we all know that nothing is worth it if you really have to work for it.  That seems to be the new “American Way.”  No, let us all just shout as loud as we can in the hopes of drowning out the other side’s message.    

The really sad thing is that there are some serious, pressing issues that must be decided over the next 4 years to determine how the United States evolves as a nation.  None of these issues are being discussed, because we, as an electorate, have bought into the easy path of screams, taunts and accusations, without bothering to see if there is really any substance behind all of the noise.  We seem to be satisfied with easy answers, and not push for further clarification.  Nuance has become a four letter word, and an open exchange of ideas is tantamount to treason.  This is mob rule, and it is only getting worse. 

Prove me wrong:  I dare you.  I double dare you.  As this election gets closer, find someone, anyone running for office, who has the guts and thoughtfulness to answer the following questions in complete sentences: 

§         How are we going to become energy independent? 

§         How are we going to fix our schools so that children not only learn information, but are taught how to critically review and examine the world around them?  The President’s proclamation that “no child left behind” works is only accurate if you are talking about test scores.  We need more than strong test scores if we are to maintain our place in the International Community.  Innovation comes from ideas and creativity, not from rote memory.   

§         How are we going to replace our aging infrastructure, and more importantly, how are we going to pay for it.

§         How are we going to support our Veterans and make sure they get the benefits and care they need?

§         How are we going to reinvigorate the peace process in the Middle East?

§         How are we going to make health care affordable to those in need? 

§         How are we going to fix our illegal immigration problem?

§         How are we going to pay for the war in Iraq without compromising social services that support those truly in need?

§         How are we going to regain the respect of the international community so that we can work with others to resolve regional conflict, rather than force ourselves to undertake unilateral actions that make us appear imperialistic?

§         How can we ignore Sudan but invade Iraq?

§         How are we going to disengage from Iraq, and under what conditions?

§         How can we make sure that every vote is in fact counted, and counted properly?

I am waiting.  Answers to any of these questions would be nice . . . ahhh, I hear the crickets once again, and this time, I think they are cricketing at each other because that is all they now know how to do.  Sometimes, the sound of silence can be scary.  Even scarier, though, is having to face the truth:  we are a nation in peril, not so much from those outside our borders, but from those within, those who fail to honor their duties and obligations as citizens.  Democracy is not easy, and it requires work.  It requires that the issues be discussed.  It requires that you respect someone else’s right to disagree with you.  It takes time.  Neither party can, or will, engage in an honest debate of the issues because doing so would expose the truth:  behind the screams, stomps, accusations and claims of “patriotism” are serious problems that continue to be ignored.  Discourse is not the enemy, easy answers are.  In this world, there are no easy answers that honestly answer the questions we face.  But, easy answers are all we ever seem to get.  Someone, anyone, please take the time to thoughtfully answer my questions.  I promise, give me something other than an easy answer, and I will work with you toward a solution.  I will support you.  I will vote for you.