The Failure of Politics
The political system is broken. A clear sign is Sen. Arlen Specter’s decision to defect to the Democrats.
Pundits and politicians, however, typically and predictably, are mostly chattering about the cosmetics.
Moderate Republicans, represented most forcefully by Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Olympia Snowe, are bemoaning the loss. Her perspective is seconded by David Brooks.
Democrats, liberals, and other Obama supporters delight in the prospect of a 60th vote in the Senate to break filibusters. Here are pieces from E. J. Dionne, Joan Walsh, and Gail Collins. They and others describe the continuing decline of the Republican party.
The news stories nicely illustrate the conventional labels and divisions and clichés: Republicans vs. Democrats, liberals vs. conservatives, beleaguered or endangered moderates.
Something just about everyone recognizes and agrees on: Specter saved his job. By becoming a Democrat, he’ll be reelected in 2010. He’ll get to stay in the club.
From another perspective, mine, this episode – and the surrounding discussion, regardless of the specifics – illustrates the real failure of our government and the political system. There’s not much difference between being a moderate Republican and a Democrat. Specter didn’t travel far, didn’t cross any ideological gap. His real affiliation is with the status quo party. Becoming a Democrat was just a minor detail, a change in the letter after his name. By switching, moreover, he actually strengthens the political status quo and the establishment consensus.
Here’s what the status quo party has given us: Economic recession/depression, a two trillion dollar Wall Street bailout, huge government budget deficits, worsening climate change, deteriorating urban areas, more than 700 military bases around the world, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unelected and mostly unaccountable power of the Federal Reserve Board.
We the People deserve better. Citizen Dividends, the guaranteed universal basic income, will return political and economic power to ordinary Americans, to you, your family members, your friends and neighbors, your community.
We need a Peaceful, Positive Revolution. And it can happen within the next few years if enough of us spread the word.
Steven Shafarman
Tags: Peaceful Revolution, politics