I consider myself a left of center moderate. So take that bias and viewpoint under consideration as you read this post. Yes, I am admitting to being biased right up front, or left up front in my case. I think we would all be better off if we stated our biases at the beginning.
It is my opinion that a country can not be governed by either extreme. The liberals need the conservatives to limit the budget and an oversized government. The conservatives need liberals to inject some humanity and compassion into the equation.
Most of us live a moderate life whether we realize it or not. Staunch conservatives are very willing to take advantage of government programs that benefit them. The rich are especially adept at this. Many liberals are more than willing to decry government intervention into areas they don't agree with.
We are all an often contradictory mishmash of ideas and beliefs. Conservative adamant pro-lifers are often in favor of the death penalty. So-called forgiving and compassionate Christians can't abide LGBTs, Muslims or immigrants. Many liberals want the government to control soft drinks and trans fats but not recreational drugs. Both sides want the courts to overrule laws when it is to their advantage, but say the judiciary is overstepping their bounds when they rule against them. I could give a thousand other examples. The number of dichotomies within any group or even an individual are overwhelming.
That was where the moderates in government were so useful. They could talk to both extremes, carry demands and proposals back and forth, broker a compromise. If either side got too extreme, they risked losing the moderates and therefore the battle.
When I look at the current Republican party, I see few if any moderates. Those labeled "moderate Republicans" nowadays are just slightly less Draconian than the Freedom Caucus, Tea Party or whatever name they use now. It is somewhat less fractured on the Democratic side but that has much to do with the loss of power and majority. They too have members who will not compromise or negotiate on certain points. How hard-assed a member of Congress behaves is directly proportional to how secure his seat is. If reelection is assured, they have no incentive to even slightly waver from their extreme campaign rhetoric.
We need more moderate, logical, calm, open-minded, legislators and other members of government. People who can cut through the blind ideology and find common ground. We already have plenty on the far right and far left.
Without moderation and consensus, we are doomed to rollercoaster governing. When the Republicans are in power, we get tax cuts for the rich, closed borders, big military spending and drastic cuts to social and environmental programs. As soon as the Democrats regain control they will reinstate social and environmental programs, redo health care, change the tax code, and loosen the immigration rules. That is no way to run a country. People, business, state and local governments, institutions, even foreign governments have no idea where we are going or what to plan for. Will the current majority still be in power in two, four, six or eight years? In the days of moderates, those policy swings were far less drastic. The future was far less uncertain.
Do yourself and your country a favor. Look for more moderate and reasonable candidates to vote for. Even if that candidate may be from the other party. With our current primary system and gerrymandered districts, that is difficult. Entrenched incumbents in safe districts will not change the current climate of gridlock. It is up to us to vote new blood into government.
I'm probably too old for any of this to make a real difference in my life. I do have children and grandchildren that I am concerned about. Not because of them but because of our country's direction. Did we already reach peak America? Are we on the downtrend? I hope not, there is still time to fix it. Let's all try to be a little more "moderate".
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