The finger pointing began even before the election last night was concluded. Whether Coakley’s loss was the result of the White House or her lackluster campaign entirely misses the point. Both camps consists of politicians so they cannot go where I am going to go. The fault lies not in either but with the nihilism of the American people, especially the nihilism of the so-called independent voter. Much of Brown’s support came from the independents and this election shows just how fickle the support of independents is. The difference of the independent voter in exactly one year is telling. Candidates win because who they are not and not because of who they are. Obama won amongst independents it appears because he was not Bush and Brown won because he can say no to each and every Obama policy. Support for Brown by left-leaning independents is a more subtle form of nihilism where the perfect is the enemy of the good. These two camps mix a toxic cocktail where nothing can get done.
The problem is we have some very long term problems that nihilism only exasperates. According to NASA GISS 2009 was the second warmest year in the instrumental record with the Southern Hemisphere being the warmest. There are legitimate differences on what the best choice is but the worst choice is “no”. Over 40,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health insurance. Thirty six countries rank ahead of us according to the WHO and they approach the problem in many different ways. We don’t need to find the answer just an answer. Again, doing nothing is the worst answer.
The worst effect of the nihilism is the lack of being grounded in reality. It seems that Pilate’s famous question “What is truth?” is answered by poll and even by who can shout the loudest and have the most outrageous (and even violent) signs. This is seen in its most patent form with global warming denialism. If you warp the facts to suit your whims the hope of having the answer is nil.
Nihilism is also grounded in fear and selfishness. Massachussetts has their universal healthcare and passing it for the rest of the country would end up costing them. Scripture teaches us that perfect love casts out all fear. Sadly, I see little in the faith community in which I reside that shows that we either understand much less follow this truth. If there is anything that the earthquake in Haiti should teach us is that we are indeed our brother’s keeper and when we are all of us benefit. St. Augustine said that evil was the negation of good. I add that negation is evil.
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Welcome back Rich. I have to get my head out of stock trading and back into politics but I’ve lost the heart for it.
I didn’t follow this race closely and am not surprised at the outcome. Its all about jobs and the economy. Its all about selfishness and impatience.
Congress and the Senate are not working. The GOP strategy is to cripple the country until the mid term elections. This victory confirms that the people really dont get it. The American public always turns its back on the incumbent party in the first mid terms rather than give them mid term support. We elect them and then we cripple them. Nice work folks.
We want results and we want them NOW. We are too impatient to wait, its been one year and already the people are whining. They expected 8 years of one sided government to be turned around. It doesnt happen that way.
Why? Because the opposition sets out from day 1 to force the government to fail. Yes Dems do it too.
What a system. And we wonder why all the newest democracies have not chosen the American model.
McConnell went on CNN today saying that he has been ready to work with Obama, bullshit. He and his party put up roadblocks to every single attempt for change. When was the last time a GOP vote went with the administration (never mind Snowe). Not since the election.
Obama must stick to his principles and not let the fickle US voter cause him to swing. Then he’s lost, they’ll call him a flip flopper. Its a no win.
My only advice is put the environment on the back burner and focus on jobs. And that means more spending not less.
This might be a one term President but at least he will govern to his promises. Then we will have 4 years of GOP lowering the taxes for the rich and screwing the middle class. And the GOP can some in and blame the whole mess on Obama. Like the house wasn’t burning when they left.