Thursday, June 07, 2012
Political Mayhem Thursday: The Most Important Election!
Like others, I watched the recall election in Wisconsin very closely last night. Were people surprised by the result? Does it have national significance?
Looking ahead, I'm not sure that the presidential election in the fall is the most important thing we will be deciding in November.
For example, I think a decent argument can be made that the control of the House and Senate will be a more important decision than who becomes president. In part, that is because I think that (despite all the rhetoric) both Obama and Romney are essentially moderates. Romney, like Bush (either one) before him is running to the right of his true persona, and Obama is much more of a centrist than he is a liberal. In fact, his policies on a variety of issues have varied little from the preceding administration (which in some respects may be a good thing). In contrast, the Congress is very polarized, and who controls it will have real import on policy decisions.
Personally, I believe that in 50 years we may look back and see that the California referendum on the death penalty is the most important thing put to a vote in November, 2012. If California gets rid of the death penalty, a significant majority of Americans will live in non-death penalty states, and the trend of states rejecting the death penalty (five in just the last six years) will accelerate, leading to its demise.
What do you think?
Looking ahead, I'm not sure that the presidential election in the fall is the most important thing we will be deciding in November.
For example, I think a decent argument can be made that the control of the House and Senate will be a more important decision than who becomes president. In part, that is because I think that (despite all the rhetoric) both Obama and Romney are essentially moderates. Romney, like Bush (either one) before him is running to the right of his true persona, and Obama is much more of a centrist than he is a liberal. In fact, his policies on a variety of issues have varied little from the preceding administration (which in some respects may be a good thing). In contrast, the Congress is very polarized, and who controls it will have real import on policy decisions.
Personally, I believe that in 50 years we may look back and see that the California referendum on the death penalty is the most important thing put to a vote in November, 2012. If California gets rid of the death penalty, a significant majority of Americans will live in non-death penalty states, and the trend of states rejecting the death penalty (five in just the last six years) will accelerate, leading to its demise.
What do you think?
Comments:
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Criminal and social justice in our country are both in peril. You are right about the importance of the death penalty. You are working to bring justice and compassion to disenfranchised people who need your help.
I think,however, racism, fascism light, money in politics, and the effect of the elections on the Supreme Court will be the big stories years from now when we look back on 2012. Dad
I think,however, racism, fascism light, money in politics, and the effect of the elections on the Supreme Court will be the big stories years from now when we look back on 2012. Dad
# posted by 
: 8:39 AM
: 8:39 AM
I believe that in 50 years we may look back and mark November 2012 as death of the true American conservatism, the kind of conservatism that avoided detrimental polarized politics, the kind of conservatism that made sure to keep intact American individualism without losing an equal sense of communal obligation, the kind of conservatism that had respect for truth and facts, respect for social justice and respect for the office of a president elected by all Americans, the kind of conservatism hanging on to a balance now lost to a new ideology whose name I’d be curious to find out what they’d call 50 years from now. The new ideology which had to be served at ANY cost, including misleading facts and distorted truths that went unchallenged because most journalists no longer had the guts exposing, in a press that became more and more biased due to corporate sponsorship and ads revenues.
This happens to be a personal grievance just because I know from my distant past just how devastating the effects of a biased or indolent press can be, but in recent history look no further than to one of our G8 allies and to the quasi dictatorship of Silvio Berlusconi who happened to conveniently reign over most Italian mass media outlets and a major factor on his grip to power.
This happens to be a personal grievance just because I know from my distant past just how devastating the effects of a biased or indolent press can be, but in recent history look no further than to one of our G8 allies and to the quasi dictatorship of Silvio Berlusconi who happened to conveniently reign over most Italian mass media outlets and a major factor on his grip to power.
Marta; I hope we are both wrong and 2012 will be remembered for the year when responsible conservatives and progressives woke up to the change that you describe so well and returned the power back to the people. Maybe this is the year the plutocrats and their minions get booted. Dad
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# posted by : 2:27 PM
: 2:27 PM << Home
