Feb

Back to self-rule?

Tired of acrimony in politics? Would you like a government that functions without constant partisan attack; government where good ideas are not derailed by special interests, where elected officials seem out of touch with the citizens? Judging by Congressional approval ratings, most Americans are more than fed up.

Horrendous numbers for Congress are nothing new. As far back as Real Clear Politics’ polling goes, Congress has a negative spread. The transition from Republican to Democrat majorities has done nothing to help the perception of this once venerable institution.

President Obama, post-partisan in campaign rhetoric only, fairs better with a razor thin positive spread of 1.9%. But bear in mind that he was elected with great fanfare; and in him many people, on the left and right, had pinned their hopes for a courteous and constructive future political. His overreaching statist ambitions for cap and trade and healthcare, as well as equity-takeover of American banks, de facto control over the nation’s largest insurer, and increased regulations on credit card lending lifted the (in my opinion, naive, possibly delusional) veil of bipartisan rhetoric. The arrogant government reach from Congress and the Executive branch, after Bush had already bailed out the insolvent banks, Fannie and Freddie, and used TARP funds to lend to the car companies, spawned the “Don’t tread on me!” Tea Party movement. The president and Congress are severely weakened, and face the choice of compromise or complete dissolution of the Democratic party as we know it.

It is clear that our government at all levels is not working for, but actively against, the interests of the people. Too concerned with tomorrow’s election results, they prefer not to notice the impending fiscal crisis: a result of their profligate spending, borrowing, and inflating. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker summed it up well on a recent CNN interview (approximately 1/4 down the page). Asked by host Fareed Zakaria: ” … can the world’s greatest power be the world’s greatest borrower?” said Volcker: “I hate to give you this answer, but the crisis I most worry about is the crisis in governance.“ He added, “this is more dysfunctional than I’ve seen it.”

When Democracy works, it does so by limiting its sphere of governance; in other words, it remains within its constitutional adumbration. Once the elected officials lose all sense of constraint due to hubris, stunning ignorance, or disdain for their fractious constituents whom they deem unsophisticated, Democracy in devolves into mob rule accompanied by the self-serving flattery of pomp and circumstance. The language of liberty is cheaply used to provide cover for politicians who abuse their elected power and carve out more and more of the private sector for special interests. What was once noble self-governance becomes the means for ever-more competitive lawful plunder. Instead of serving the general welfare, roughly defined by our Constitutional, officials run a racket of political favors for their most influential constituents. Volcker’s comments suggests that he senses our Republic being blown off course by these dangerous political winds.

Americans, in spite of all our technology and cultural insularity, are still people, flesh and blood. Recognizing that human nature is unchanging, it would do us well to recall the storied falls of past Democracies and Republics. Although not taught in public schools, Athens, the archetype of majority politics, tarnished democracy’s name for centuries after its desperate citizens continually approved more and more grotesque tactics during the Peloponnesian War, including genocide. (I should say here, explicitly, that I am not implying the American populace or military is anything like the Athenians. The point is to exemplify the extremes that democracies can be driven to in times of desperation; the tyranny of the majority is not necessarily any less baleful than the tyranny of a Caligula.) The waning years of the Roman Senate were marked by character assassination and physical assassination, intermittent despotic rule in the city of Rome, and dispossession of private property. It was this degenerate behavior by the political class that softened up a proud, self-governing people for the rule of Caesar. These are meant as warnings, not to illustrate an American fait d’accompli.

Which brings us to present-day America… The Obama administration and the Democratic Congressional majority have been shaken deeply by gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, and most recently the election of Republican Scott Brown to the Senate, taking the seat of the “liberal lion” Ted Kennedy. Obama’s home state of Illinois, a Democratic stronghold, is flirting likewise with political rebellion. These defeats have taken their tole on the confidence of the ruling majority, and given hope to millions of disaffected Americans.

In what amounts to the first positive economic development from this administration the Obama has pledged $8.3 billion pledge of funding for nuclear power. Now ideally, Congress would let the private sector handle the production of power. But present attitudes and prejudices being what they are, this is as good as it gets. If the administration is serious about this project and does not hinder progress by attempting to pacify the Greens, it may be the first step in the right direction for revitalizing American industry and subsequently our economy. A vibrant nuclear power industry would cut capital energy expenditures, attract manufacturing, and make the American worker comparatively cheaper (less $ to energy bills means more available to “human capital,” i.e. labor).

Being familiar with his radical/socialist background, I have many doubts Obama will meaningfully move to the center. Still, if he is serious about nuclear energy, and does not use it as a bargaining chip for nationalizing healthcare, it will be a salubrious sign for a government-weary people.

This post and the contents thereof are the views of only the author identified immediately above and do not necessarily represent the views of the New York Young Republican Club, Inc. (the "NYYRC"), its officers or its members. The NYYRC expressly disclaims responsibility for the contents thereof and by its charter documents may not, and does not, endorse any candidate for any office, except in a general election.