If politics has no morals, then politics has no meaning. If Democrats resort to the same tactics as Republicans, then our “democratic representative form of government” is lost.
If politics has no morals, then politics has no meaning. If Democrats resort to the same tactics as Republicans, then our “democratic representative form of government” is lost.
The definition of "politics" is defined as: "the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or society." OED
While we all would like "morals" to be involved in those activities (both the getting and using power and being able to influence decisions), that has not been the reality for thousands of years. I highly recommend the movies "A Man For All Seasons" on this.
Without getting power, one cannot use power. Without getting power, one cannot influence decisions. If one political party uses the strategy of "whatever it takes to get/stay in power," the opposing political party cannot either ignore that strategy, nor assume an opposite strategy of a "higher moral ground" will be successful--not after Trump and 1/6.
In 2009, Republicans saw that they only needed to win 5 statehouses to control the redistricting that would happen after the 2010 census--Operation Red Map. The Democrats didn't even see what was happening/or couldn't conceive any political party would do that--deliberately skew the playing field so greatly--until they won huge majorities in 2012 and lost seats.
When the Democratic Party been successful using "higher moral ground" tactics? Gore won the 2000 election, but graciously conceded when the Republican SCOTUS stopped the recount in Florida--even though Gore still had legal options to pursue; he didn't think it would be good for the nation. Several Constitutional scholars put forth solid arguments for Obama to step in on the Merrick Garland nomination obstruction, but he wanted to respect the Senate's rules. Obama also didn't go ahead and announce Russia's involvement on Trump's behalf in 2016 because Mitch McConnell refused to issue a bipartisan statement. Democrats are too often willing to give away power to "play fair."
Elected Republicans in states and in the federal government were willing--eager--to overturn a legally-decided election they lost. Does anyone think that now that they have perfected the plan--testing it with the brainless crash dummy first--they won't use it again? Some of them are already bragging Democrats will never win again in their states.
Is this really the time to claim politics must have a "moral center" when one party has already demonstrated--more than once--it doesn't have one, and also sees the Democrats' having one as weakness to be exploited? What "moral center" do you think Republicans will demonstrate in their use of power in influencing the decisions of our society?
IF Democrats can get and use power in sufficient quantity--Biden has nothing to work with--a moral center can be re-established. That has happened several times before in US history. If Republicans get and use power in sufficient quantity--their lack of moral center will be even more apparent without Trump to blame.
We've all already seen what Republicans are willing to encourage and support. If Democrats don't fight as hard as they can, with everything they can think of, the present from of government will continue to follow Victor Orban's playbook toward authoritarian fascism.
“Is this really the time to claim politics must have a "moral center"?” Yes. If you are willing to subvert democracy to gain power, you’re the same as Republicans. In which case, I want you to lose, too.
How nice of you to put words in my mouth. Where did I state I wanted to subvert democracy? I said it’s time—past time—for Democrats to fight on a level playing field rather than worrying that the most important thing wasn’t winning, but to be able to claim the moral high ground.
I don’t find those words in my posts,but you believe they are there.How nice to have my actual words re-interpreted. Part of the massive miscommunication problem in the US today
If politics has no morals, then politics has no meaning. If Democrats resort to the same tactics as Republicans, then our “democratic representative form of government” is lost.
The definition of "politics" is defined as: "the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or society." OED
While we all would like "morals" to be involved in those activities (both the getting and using power and being able to influence decisions), that has not been the reality for thousands of years. I highly recommend the movies "A Man For All Seasons" on this.
Without getting power, one cannot use power. Without getting power, one cannot influence decisions. If one political party uses the strategy of "whatever it takes to get/stay in power," the opposing political party cannot either ignore that strategy, nor assume an opposite strategy of a "higher moral ground" will be successful--not after Trump and 1/6.
In 2009, Republicans saw that they only needed to win 5 statehouses to control the redistricting that would happen after the 2010 census--Operation Red Map. The Democrats didn't even see what was happening/or couldn't conceive any political party would do that--deliberately skew the playing field so greatly--until they won huge majorities in 2012 and lost seats.
When the Democratic Party been successful using "higher moral ground" tactics? Gore won the 2000 election, but graciously conceded when the Republican SCOTUS stopped the recount in Florida--even though Gore still had legal options to pursue; he didn't think it would be good for the nation. Several Constitutional scholars put forth solid arguments for Obama to step in on the Merrick Garland nomination obstruction, but he wanted to respect the Senate's rules. Obama also didn't go ahead and announce Russia's involvement on Trump's behalf in 2016 because Mitch McConnell refused to issue a bipartisan statement. Democrats are too often willing to give away power to "play fair."
Elected Republicans in states and in the federal government were willing--eager--to overturn a legally-decided election they lost. Does anyone think that now that they have perfected the plan--testing it with the brainless crash dummy first--they won't use it again? Some of them are already bragging Democrats will never win again in their states.
Is this really the time to claim politics must have a "moral center" when one party has already demonstrated--more than once--it doesn't have one, and also sees the Democrats' having one as weakness to be exploited? What "moral center" do you think Republicans will demonstrate in their use of power in influencing the decisions of our society?
IF Democrats can get and use power in sufficient quantity--Biden has nothing to work with--a moral center can be re-established. That has happened several times before in US history. If Republicans get and use power in sufficient quantity--their lack of moral center will be even more apparent without Trump to blame.
We've all already seen what Republicans are willing to encourage and support. If Democrats don't fight as hard as they can, with everything they can think of, the present from of government will continue to follow Victor Orban's playbook toward authoritarian fascism.
“Is this really the time to claim politics must have a "moral center"?” Yes. If you are willing to subvert democracy to gain power, you’re the same as Republicans. In which case, I want you to lose, too.
How nice of you to put words in my mouth. Where did I state I wanted to subvert democracy? I said it’s time—past time—for Democrats to fight on a level playing field rather than worrying that the most important thing wasn’t winning, but to be able to claim the moral high ground.
Republicans are subverting democracy. You want Dems to do the same thing. Those are your words.
I don’t find those words in my posts,but you believe they are there.How nice to have my actual words re-interpreted. Part of the massive miscommunication problem in the US today