The post election campaign reflections of an independent

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” -- Abraham Lincoln

Given the enormous spending by a very few, very wealthy in the hope of buying the election through propaganda, made possible by the Supreme Corporate’s “Citizen’s United” ruling, the 2012 election outcome is like a reassuring ray of light filtering through a dark, ominous and troubled sky.


In many ways, I suspect the 2012 U.S. election results were less an endorsement of the Democrats and more a rejection of the current state of the Republican Party.

While the trends in outcomes from Tuesday’s presidential, senate, and congressional races and the associated ballot referenda speak to themselves, here’s a snippet of what I took from it:

• Most Americans are concerned with the federal deficit, but don’t agree that more military spending and decreased taxes are the ways to reduce it. Most Americans approve of higher taxes on the very wealthy, because they know the rich will always prosper and thrive.
  
  
• Most Americans disapprove of the worldview and fundamentalism inherent in the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party, and dislike of the intolerance, hatred and vitriol directed toward minority communities, particularly immigrants and gays.
  
  
• Most Americans believe in a woman’s right to equal pay for equal work, and that conservative old white men should have no say in decisions concerning her body and health.
  
  
• Most Americans are hard workers and resent efforts to quell worker rights. They know that the personal responsibility for working hard is no less important than being a ‘job creator.’
  
  
• Most Americans have values that are not defined by self-interest and greed, and they know their worth is much more than what they earn or have.
  
  
• Most American’s don’t believe in austerity.
  
  
• Most American’s believe that capitalism should be regulated versus free and unfettered from all government oversight.
  
  
• Most Americans want no part of a corporate-run plutocracy, and see the GOP’s real constituency as one of Hallibuton and GE, by Comcast and Koch and for WalMart.
  
  
• Finally, most Americans want the man whose finger is on the trigger to be thoughtful and reflective versus hasty, to be one to reconcile versus showing belligerence, to be compassionate versus heartless, and to care and exude warmth. Similar to the oft-asked, ‘Who would you rather have over for dinner and conversation?,’ it’s a question that, for most Americans, Romney lost decisively.

In moving beyond the election results, however, the campaign was illuminating as much for the issues that were not discussed as for those that were.

On the environment, the single sentence devoted to global warming in Obama’s victory speech highlighted the strange absence of the issue on the two-year long campaign trail. “We want our children to live in an America,” Obama stated, “…that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.” ¹⁾ Twitter and Facebook users took note. “He finally did it!” said one status message, while others stated, “It’s about time!” On the other hand, Romney strapped on his super-man ‘corporate protector’ cape whenever the issue was broached. “I’m not in this race to slow the rise of the oceans or to heal the planet,” said Romney. It became the phrase that resonated best in summing his position. ²⁾

Obama’s lack of campaigning on environmental issues certainly didn’t serve to position himself well when Hurricane Sandy descended upon the Northeastern U.S. in the weeks leading up to the election. And perhaps he didn’t need to, given Romney’s stance was so obvious.

Still, the one sentence in Obama’s victory speech is destined to become symbolic, but of what? Did it represent a real, personal and intense desire to see better stewardship as well as to use the power of the executive to advance an environmentally-friendly agenda? Or rather, will we see Obama continue to capitulate to the short-sighted self-interests of corporations? Given the near universal consensus of the independent science community in terms of global warming, I hope for the former while bracing for a rough future- one that will see more super-storms wreaking death and destruction upon the world’s coastal cities, steadily rising sea levels, and inland climate extremes destined to diminish water supplies as well as tax the world’s ability to feed itself ³⁾… all of which, by the way, will cost tens of trillions fiscally in reactionary versus preventive measures. I suspect the answer to what Obama does or does not accomplish environmentally will largely determine his long-term legacy, more so than his first-term passage of the Affordable Health Care Act.

Poverty and inequality were other issues amazingly absent from the 2012 campaign trail. In September, media watchdogs Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting joined to release a report on a six month analysis of nine major news outlets, including the Washington Post and NBC News, where just 17 of 10,489 campaign stories were found which addressed poverty in a substantive way. ⁴⁾ Statistically, that’s one-fifth of one percent- meaning only one of every 500 campaign stories dealt with poverty.

That’s stunning, given 46 million Americans live in poverty, and particularly in light of the measures used to define U.S. poverty, where a single mother of two making just $18,106 is not considered to be poor. ⁵⁾ In reality, one in two Americans now struggle to simply to make ends meet. A December, 2011 Census Bureau report classifies more than 97 million Americans as low-income in addition to the 46 million measured as poor. ⁶⁾ These are hard-working, low-salaried wage earners who continually struggle to meet daily needs in the face of the steadily rising costs of living.

America’s inequality represents the other side of the problem as we now live in a new Gilded Age, where the difference between the few who have and the vast majority who don’t is astounding:

• The top one percent of Americans (three million) possess more wealth than the bottom 90% percent (270 million). ⁷⁾
  
  
• Six Walton heirs alone possess as much wealth as the bottom 30% of all Americans. That is, those six have the equivalent wealth of 90 million Americans. ⁸⁾
  
  
• Moreover, the Gini Coefficient, which measures America’s inequality, is now the highest since the Great Depression of the 1930s. ⁹⁾

Extreme inequality points to a system of capitalism within the U.S. that is dysfunctional because it is unjust. Congress, principally Republicans but often in tandem with members of the Democratic Party, has consistently de-regulated government and consumer oversight through legislation relative what existed just a few decades ago. The outcome, not surprisingly, is a very few benefit exceptionally in proportion to everyone else. CEO and high-level corporate managers have seen astronomical jumps in income, fringe benefits and dividends, while workers- in an environment where labor rights have been steadily trampled- have seen wages fall as well as lessened health care and retirement benefits. Consequently, the U.S. is on a path that leads to increasing inequality and a corresponding decrease in its standard of living- one that’s trending toward an America of third-world status. Moreover, note some contend inequality correlates with polarization- the problem that now deadlocks Congressional action- and warn such may eventually lead to another catastrophic economic failure. ¹⁰⁾

So how were both poverty and inequality such non-issues during the 2012 campaign, especially for two candidates not opposed, when necessary, to ironically wearing their Christian religion on their sleeves? Certainly, in Jesus we find the consummate advocate for social equality as well as an eloquent teacher concerning our human responsibility to meet the needs of the least, lost and last among us. On the other hand, austerity and obscene wealth were certainly campaign issues- the majority of American voters said no to both- while the other extremes were consciously ignored. They’re the flip side of the coins to which, historically, both parties have been much more attentive and compassionate. Poverty and inequality are issues that, moving forward, the Democrats cannot continue to avoid, and the Republicans should not.


Reading other commentary concerning the election results, especially from those on the right, has also been illuminating.

And, sometimes, even humorous. In Donald Trump’s angry Twitter rants, for example, I found an issue on which I could relate. Like Mr. Trump, I’ve often wished for a revolution (Trump probably desires an angry, violent one, though), although he probably would not like the sort of constitutional convention he would most assuredly get: the nutty concept of corporate ‘personhood’ would be gone, as would Citizen’s United, and probably the idea of private election campaigns, given publically-funded elections with no outside spending would quite literally level the playing field so that one would not need to be rich just to get elected. No, I suspect when Trump calms down to a rational state of mind, presuming that ever occurs, he’ll realize just how good he- and his CEO buddies- have it.

As for the religious right and reaction to the election: Are we on a path to destruction? ¹¹⁾ No. The end of America as we know it? Hopefully. Dark days ahead for life, religious liberty and the traditional nuclear family? ¹²⁾ Time will tell, but if so, there’s no chance the Obama victory will play any role. The fact is the catholic, evangelical and mainline church has been in decline for years, and no presidency will play a part in either its survival or demise. The institutional church is in trouble largely because it has made itself irrelevant due to rigid adherence to a worldview, built on writings from cultures millenniums removed from the present, which offers little for the modern heart and mind. Frankly, the church alone must take ownership for its decay; blaming liberals or secularists or Democrats or anyone else is… hogwash. Doing so means no longer quoting Leviticus to justify hatred and intolerance of gays; instead, the church must openly invite gays into its congregations, leadership roles, and pulpits. Doing so means to stop quoting John for your inability to accept religious pluralism; when inter-faith activities are as prominent as your in-house gatherings you’ll know you’re getting there. And for God’s sake, get rid of your patriarchal sexism, and fast. Otherwise, by all means- feel free to continue down the path of increasing irrelevance.

As for the Republican Party, the GOP is in a tough spot, because far too many of its adherents have denied evolution at a time when the party needs it most.

The first thing the GOP should do is kick the Tea Party faction off the ticket because the Tea Party platform is fascist, and no one’s going to win the big prize in American politics under a fascist banner. Ever.

Second, the GOP should kick the Democrats out of its own rightful spot, because today’s Democratic Party policy is generally very similar to traditional GOP ideals. It’s nothing short of fascinating to watch the GOP bash the Democratic Party while the Dems push for measures that Eisenhower, Nixon or Ford would have been quite comfortable with. ¹³⁾ Moreover, today’s Democratic Party is arguably right of center, and by staying to the right of the Democrats the GOP’s base is even smaller- although, as Lincoln stated, “You can fool some of the people all of the time,” a handy fact when campaigning. Long-term, if the GOP stays too far right too long, it will face the same problem as the church: how to remain relevant.

Third, the GOP should reclaim conservatism and its hallmark ideals of seeking efficiencies while supporting the common good. Given the annualized percentage growth in spending under both Clinton and Obama was well under that of Nixon or any of the three Bush Administrations ¹⁴⁾ makes it difficult, at best, to campaign on the deficit (well, if truth be used while campaigning). It’s like the championship baseball team that gets to thinking it only need show up on the field to get a win, and suddenly can’t seem to play sound baseball. To reclaim your GOP fundamentals, stop pandering to corporate self-interests when the Pentagon says a weapons system is outdated. In fact, stop pandering to any corporate special-interests when they’re not aligned with the society’s greater good. As an example, fiscal conservatives know public education provides more bang-for-buck than a privatized system, and the same with prisons. Therefore, either some Republicans are trying to privatize these sectors because they feel beholden to the wealthy individuals and corporations who have given them enormous amounts of money in campaign contributions or lobbying favors, or else- they actually believe in privatizing everything. If it’s the former, please- grow some (you know) and reclaim your integrity and honor, and if it’s the latter- kick ‘em out, because they’re not true fiscal conservatives, anyway. They belong over with their fascist Tea Party comrades.

Fourth, stop campaigning on divisive social issues. Abortion, homosexuality, gender and immigration will cost the GOP far more politically than it will gain, unless the party is willing to take an abrupt stage left. Frankly, your father’s America was a melting pot and our current one is more so- a nation continually evolving both culturally and ethnically. The Republican Party needs to evolve, too, and soon.

Long-term, the Republican Party can embrace America’s changing cultural norms and demographic makeup, or the GOP may continue to be that which panders largely to sexist, racist, wealthy white males. If it chooses the latter… well, it does so at its peril.

Finally, a word to the Democrats: do not take this election as a mandate in any way, shape or form. You won, but in my mind, and in many others, you were viewed as the lesser of two evils. That’s not exactly something to drink to, celebrate or be proud of.

As New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote,

“Last time, Obama lifted up the base with his message of hope and change; this time the base lifted up Obama, with the hope he will change.” ¹⁵⁾

Amen, Sister. Please, President Obama- listen to that populist voice within your soul, and get busy doing the people’s work. If in four years we are living in a more equitable world, where fewer live in poverty, and in a more sustainable fashion on a healthier planet, then you will have done well, Mr. Obama.


Footnotes

¹ “Obama’s speech on election night: The full text,” San Jose Mercury News, November 7, 2012.
² “Romney clarifies policy stances,” Meet the Press, September 9, 2012.
³ “Effects of Global Warming,” National Geographic Online, 2012.
⁴ “Campaign Season Mocked Rich, but was “Not Concerned about the Very Poor,” Daniel Denvir, TruthOut, November 6, 2012.
⁵ ibid.
⁶ “Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet in the Obama Economy,” GOP.gov, July 19, 2012.
⁷ “The State of Working America’s Wealth,” Sylvia A. Allegretto, Economic Policy Institute, Briefing Paper #292, March 23, 2011.
⁸ “Why Let the Rich Hoard All the Toys,” Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times, October 3, 2012.
⁹ “Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011,” United States Census Bureau, The Department of Commerce, September 12, 2012.
¹⁰ “America has super-sized inequality: Political gridlock was bound to follow,” Aditya Chakraborrtty, The Guardian, November 5, 2012.
¹¹ “Franklin Graham: U.S. on ‘Path of Destruction’,” Michael Gryboski, Christian Post, November 11, 2012.
¹² “Christian Right Failed to Sway Voters On Issues,” Laurie Goodstein, The New York Times, November 9, 2012.
¹³ “Obama the Moderate Republican- What the 2012 Election Should Teach the GOP,” William Saleton, Salon, November 6, 2012.
¹⁴ “Who is the Smallest Government Spender Since Eisenhower? Would You Believe It’s Barack Obama?,” Rick Ungar, Forbes, May 24, 2012.
¹⁵ “Romney is President,” Maureen Dowd, The New York Times, November 10, 2012.