This article by Ralph Peters first appeared in the "New York Post" on October 14, 2024.
It's time to get a grip. And to be honest with ourselves. The fear-mongering and juvenile nastiness we, the people, endure from both political parties would have us believe that disaster looms in November.
It doesn't. You, the voters, are going to make your individual choices based upon your private beliefs. And our country is going to be better for it.
The Republicans are going to get a dose of castor oil. They need it. If we, the people, are lucky, the Dems will take the House, while the Republicans will hold on to a majority in the Senate. That split-decision would be good news for America.
Why? Despite the predictions of doom from both sides if we don't vote for the candidates selected by their party hacks (who think you and I are just chumps), our government functions best when one party controls the House and the other holds the Senate.
Why? Power corrupts. Fast. When either party - it doesn't matter which one - controls both houses of Congress, we get two very bad results. First, the party in power becomes arrogant and exclusive. Second, half of our population feels it doesn't have a voice in government.
The result is polarization of the sort we suffer now. Extremist voices are too influential in both parties and the rest of us - in the vast center - are treated as irrelevant. When either party controls everything, it ignores the wishes of the majority. A monopoly of power isn't democracy.
And we don't get efficient legislation. It seems counter-intuitive, but we're more apt to get gridlock on Capitol Hill when one party rules. The laws and amendments proposed grow too extreme as special interests become overbearing. The Bolsheviks bully the Mensheviks. And it all breaks down.
We must have the integrity to recognize that our democracy is based upon compromise. Nobody gets everything they want. If anyone did, it would be very bad for this country.
It would be unfortunate if the Dems captured both houses of Congress. But even Republicans should hope they get the House.
Why? For all of the reasons cited above - and one more: For six years, the Dems have had a free ride, criticizing everything while accepting responsibility for nothing; with control of the House, they'd have to get serious at last.
Let's see Nancy Pelosi & Co. offer serious legislation instead of sound-bites. Show us what the donkey can do when it has to stop braying and shoulder a burden.
If the Dems fail to take the House, 2024 is going to be much, much tougher for the GOP. Given responsibility, the Dems are apt to expose themselves as dilettantes on security and foreign policy - they're experienced at attacking Bush, but let's see them take on Iran, North Korea, terrorism, Chinese currency manipulation, Putin, Chavez and, not least, Iraq. Oh, and Castro's dying.
If the Dems have better ideas, let's see 'em. If they don't, they'll pay in 2024.
Personally, I'm with the Dems on most domestic issues. They appear hopelessly inane on security affairs - which trump everything else just now - but on women's rights, a living wage, the environment (why on earth aren't conservatives for conservation?), the pursuit of alternative fuels and just about everything but security matters, the Dems better represent the views of the average American than the far-right's social absolutists.
Let's face it: Both parties are corrupt, dishonest, arrogant, hypocritical, intellectually vacuous and utterly unconcerned with the fate of the average American - you. Think you or your kids matter one bit to Howard Dean or Karl Rove? Meanwhile, the big-money, over-organized nature of our contemporary system prevents the emergence of the viable third party we so desperately need.
For now, the best that we, the people, can do is to make sure that neither party sweeps the table. All law-abiding Americans should feel represented in our government. A compromise law that fully satisfies no one is always better than a law that panders to a small, rabid faction on either the left or right.
The party faithful on both sides will reject these arguments. But our country's more important than either party.
Wouldn't America be better off if every parasite living off the election-campaign circus were to disappear tomorrow? Why should we, the people, suffer the tyranny of mediocre, un-elected men and women whose selfish agendas so rarely reflect our needs?
The men and women in uniform who died for this country across the last 23 decades didn't give their lives so that we could vote straight party lines. Party lines are for communists, fascists and fools. Neither party is ever 100 percent right.
It's our duty - our duty - to our country to vote for the best man or woman, not just for the candidate the backroom boys shoved at us.
Don't vote for the Democratic or Republican party in November. Vote for individuals. Vote on the issues. Vote for what you really believe. Vote for the common good.
Vote for America.
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OK... you want to fight back room decisions and help indivudals in politics? Have I got a doozy for you.
You might not know it, but there was one American among all 300 million of us who rolled up his sleeves and actually ran for office after hearing about the Unity08. His name is Harry Welty and he's right up our alley: (1) against pork barrel projects and debt that will leave the US crippled for our children, (2) thinks abortion and gay marriage are issues the left and right use to get their way on more "profitable" issues, and (3) he's a lifelong Republican who plans on caucusing in Congress as a Democrat if he wins.
Here's the trick: As a "Unity" candidate he's being kept out of local debates *right now*. The debates on his local TV station in Duluth Minnesota happen this Friday October 20th and they're trying to keep him out because he's not "a member of a party that got 5% of the vote in the last elections".
It's not fair to him. And we're the reason he's being discriminated against. The Indepedence Party of Minnesota has the 5% and no candidate in his race, but he went with us because he thought we were inspiring and on the right track and now he's being hammered for it.
He's "just a person" not the candidate of some vast political machine. Nevermind that he's got more links to his website than the Republican candidate. Nevermind that he *personally* got 7% of the vote when he ran for office 14 years ago as a total unknown. Never mind his 8 years of service on a local school board. The people making decisions care about political machines and he doesn't seem to have one.
Personally, I think we owe it to him to help out. And there's a way to do that.
By showing them what a political machine spontaneously organized on the net can do. There a webpage set up for writing letters to protest Harry's exclusion from the debates. It has a form letter to send to your friends and family to get them to send letters. It also has a letter you can send to the guy in whose hands Harry's fat rests.
Robin Washington is an Editor for the Duluth News Tribune and it's his word whether or not a policiy changes to let in "the third candidate". Plase go to the letter writing page and help change Robin's mind.
Thanks for your help. Thanks for supporting the first Unity Candidate ever... and just imagine the coup for Unity08 if he wins! Imagine the wave of people who'll hear about Unity and show up at this website :-)
Please follow the links *fast* because the debates are this Friday. This is going to be a last second victory if we win.
Thanks again,
Jennifer
Went out 3 minutes ago - let us know how it plays...
*******************************
Mr. Washington-
I am an active Democrat in the current occupant's alleged home state (he's actually from Connecticut, you know). I am writing to encourage you to let Mr. Welty participate in Friday night's debate. I was a Democratic congressional candidate here in 2024, got 38% of the vote despite being outspent 7-1. Who knows how things might have faired had a debate opportunity been available. I was active in Perot's campaign in '92 when he was able to buy and bludgeon his way into the debates. Had he not been able to, it's highly possible that we wouldn't have enjoyed the brief and now sorely missed peace and prosperity of the late 1990s.
I don't know squat about Minnesota politics - think Jesse's a hoot - hanging out down here with our own aspiring nut case, Kinky Friedman. The point is that you, with this decision, may make a difference. Maybe not - Welty might crater and isn't likely to succeed against the giants anyway. But do you really want to be the single person who squelches an independent voice and stifles the debate? Do you want to be the one single-handedly responsible for whatever congressional mayhem is wreaked over the next two years because you wouldn't allow the apparently well known voice of a credible public figure to be heard? In case you haven't heard, this is a tight race nationally and an independent would sure throw a wrench into the current malfunctioning works, no?
I work for Minnesotans and owners of Minnesota companies and find you all universally likable. I also wear a ring on my finger that attests to my completion of a degree in journalism from one of Texas' premier institutions. Be true to the spirit of journalism - let Mr. Welty's voice be heard. Let the voters decide this race - not you.
Thank you,
Mark Greene
Ft. Worth, Texas
*******************************
Mark Greene
Texas Democrat in the Middle
I really appreciate your help. Seriously, I've spoken on the phone with some of the principals and this might come down to plus/minus a couple of emails. You help matters :-)
-Jennifer
Dear Robin Washington:
Permitting the 5% rule to carry the day is a slap in the face of your readership and those that watch WDSE during these times of extremism on both the left and right. In this day of Independence it is the duty of WDSE PBS-8 to do what is right and give the center a voice in the debates on Friday!
Only a few Americans are standing up, please don't muffle their cries - as it is decisions made such as these by the media that are destroying the nation.
It is the duty of WDSE PBS-8 to do what is right and give them an honest perspective in the debates on Friday!
I promise you I will not forget, either path you select in this matter.
Sincerely,
Earn Snyder
http://www.appyp.com/fix_main.html
Author - $aving the Bureaucracy - Killing The Beast
Lajolla3@cox.net
I am a conservative that is fed up with the republican party and their assumption that they know what best for the country and their arrogance that we will blindly follow their lead. On the flip side I have no use for the Democrats who I see as a bunch of whiners who would rather attack the other side while trying to pass themselves off as pure and blameless. Come on, what we have is one side doing things that a lot of people find offensive and the other side leading the yelling and screaming like a bunch of dogs chasing a car that they have no idea how to drive. Our political system is pathetic in the state it is in now. This November is going to be another election with nothing much changed but some of the faces. What reasonable hope do we have that any good is going to come out of this? If we don't select and support a real moderate set of candidates to separate the feuding factions and drag them to some reasonable semblance of collective governing them this grand attempt will be nothing but a exercise in beating our gums and wasting time.
With two years to get ready, why not encourage a Unity 08 slate of Congressional candidates?
A false democracy cloaking itself as a Republic of the people when it is dictated by the few... This is evendent by a 50/50 split in election after election, proof that they are making fools of the American people... Knowing the only thing they can do now is try and control the media and to muffle our voices!
Elected leaders that are the sons and wives of past presidents (qualified leaders or nothing more than royalty?) Like in many nations a tight republic controlled by a few royal families cloaking themselves as two political parties trying to legitimize themselves in our eyes by spewing hatred and extremism, making you think there is any difference between either a Democrat or Republican in office? I just can't believe the people are so stupid - and if we are this stupid then we have no hope but have given up. Register as a Independent or continue to be a loser as you help lead this nation to slaughter... the choice is yours America? As long as Americans continue to be registered as facist republicans or democrats we are doomed. For unless the people exodus both parties and claim independence from this two headed destroyer of freedom we are doomed - Earn Snyder
Author "$aving the bureaucracy - Killing the beast"
Modern Progressive Independent
www.appyp.com/fix_main.html
I thought the whole idea was Unity would represent the middle of the political spectrum. Now this guy is going to caucas with the democrats who is in most cases far to the left. I am beginning to wonder about unity08, Are you people a mask for the liberal left wing of the democratic party? I am not sold on you yet, I thought I was but this does not square with what I read about unity in your philosophy statements. I posted an article on my own blog for people to support you all. I am going back and retract that and change it to a proceed with caution. Sorry but that is the way I see it.