America at Political Cross-roads

Foundation for Better Government

(www.bettergovt.blogspot.com)

September 21, 2012

America at Political Cross-roads

By T.S. Khanna, September 21, 2012.

Democracy was based on the assumption that voters would value their independence; have the desire and ability for rational analysis of the confronting issues; and, make a judgment for the common good by compromising their personal interests with the public interest.

Similarly, independence of the media (journalism) was protected to assure the supply of unbiased factual information to the voters to facilitate independent judgment.

However, the reality is different: Most voters have abandoned their responsibility of studying, analyzing, and making rational judgment about the confronting issues. They do not have the time, aptitude, or ability to comprehend and analyze the political issues.  They prefer to join a political party and with blind loyalty keep supporting the party candidates and its policies.

The media has also been abandoning its responsibility: Smooth blend of news and opinions mixed with half-truths and distorted facts are presented to the voters.  The media divide continuously favors/opposes one party or the other.  This is not journalism, it is activism disguised as journalism.  It cannot be corrected; it is protected by constitutional freedom of speech.

In addition, the advanced techniques of psychological manipulation, amoral (non-moral) stance in politics where ends justify means, and professional merchandising of the party policies and candidates during campaigns treat the voters as a mass market.  Most voters are easily manipulated as they do not have time or the taste for politics and yet want to have a full say in it.

The system is malfunctioning.  However, the contagion of malfunctioning is not complete yet and there is hope.  There are still thoughtful independent voters and ethically oriented independent journalists who can tip the balance.

Under the circumstances, the facts presented by the media cannot be trusted or digested by thoughtful voters.  Nor can be trusted the public persona or the oratory of the candidates padded with false promises and utopian hopes.  The best course for independent voters is to discount all the propaganda of distorted facts and ignore the candidates’ charisma, speeches and their personalities.  Take a close look at the facts and policies of the two parties that are undeniably clear:

1. Both parties, the Democratic Party (DP) and the Republican Party (RP) are responsible for the present economic mess.
2. The economy is not improving and the blame game is continuing.  The two parties have different approaches to improve the economy and reduce the deficit; DP proposes to continue the past efforts and hopes for improvement.  In addition,

DP would like to increase the tax rate on higher incomes to pay for entitlement programs and budget deficit.  RP’s plan calls for (a) Reduction in taxes on all income levels (including the Middle Class) and put more money in the hands of the taxpayers, (b) Strengthening/encouraging more businesses/employers in the private sector by reducing taxes, (c) As the preceding steps induce growth in employment opportunities, more and more people, presently dependent on government assistance, will move to the newly created jobs.

3. DP believes its policies need more time to succeed.  RP believes that DP’s continued policies will continue to increase the number of dependents on government.  RP believes that its plan will not only fix the economy, it will also revive the old philosophy of self-dependence, independent effort with its own risk/reward, minimum government interference without curtailment of freedom.  That philosophy has been at the root of all American progress in the past.
4. RP policies support Democratic Capitalism; DP’s policies support Democratic Socialism.   The objection to Capitalism is that it makes people unequally rich (according to their ability and effort).  The objection to Socialism is that it makes people equally poor with government’s effort.  Socialism starts out distributing wealth and ends up distributing poverty.  Capitalism has built in wealth producing incentives; Socialism has built in wealth consumption/reduction features.
5. DP, with its all inclusive policy, accepts and pursues to legalize same-sex marriage; RP oppose it as degradation of classic human values.
6. RP opposes abortion rights of women (with certain exceptions) curtailing the freedom of women; DP supports pregnant women’s rights allowing them full freedom.
7. RP opposes illegal immigration; DP accepts illegal immigrants and allows them to be absorbed with public assistance programs.
8. RP oppose gun control as an assertion of constitutional right; DP softly supports it without a definite plan or a program.
9. RP gives greater importance to job creation than to environmental consideration, especially when the involved issues have not been proven beyond doubt.  DP gives more importance to environmental issue and prefers to extend the welfare (entitlement programs) where jobs cannot be created due to environmental restrictions.

Now the growing struggle is not so much between the Blacks v/s the Whites, or the Whites v/s the Non-Whites, or the Rich v/s the Poor , the struggle seems to be growing between the Working classes (bread-earners) and the Dependent classes (bread-winners).

The upcoming election in November 2012 will be pivotal in American history:  If the Democrat President wins with democrat majority in both the Houses (Congress & Senate) Socialism will be in the wings; If RP wins with similar results, the nation will start recovery towards Capitalism; If the President and the House majority are of opposite parties, the nation will continue to consume itself with congressional log jams, gridlocks and deadlocks.

Thoughtful independent voter can play a significant role in the upcoming election.