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Articles: The Democracy Papers

For the last decade, our political parties -- and, thus, our government -- has been in the hands of political and social extremists.  I define an extremist as anyone who believes his or her way is the right way for everyone else -- and who sets out to impose his or her way on the rest of us.  In a democracy, there is no place in the leadership ranks for such extremists -- because they have simply forgotten that a democracy guarantees that the rest of us can believe -- and live our lives in that belief -- that we are also right (whether or not we believe that extremist stuff).  This section contains articles about our democracy -- and the need to help our extremist leaders (on both sides of the aisle) understand that there are a lot more of "us" than there are of "them."

If We Can’t Beat the Partisans, We’ll All Just Have to Join Them

by Brad Warthen (The State)

There is only one thing left for us independents to do:  We’ll all just register as Republicans. And then we’ll get all the Democrats we know to register as Republicans, and get them to talk all the other Democrats into registering as Republicans.  Then, once everybody is a Republican, parties won’t matter (just as they didn’t matter back when all these Republicans’ mamas and daddies were Democrats). Then we can forget all this partisan nonsense, elect candidates according to their abilities rather than their ideological purity, and get on with the business of moving this state forward.  [June 26, 2005]

I hope you’ll pardon my bringing up the Clemson-Carolina confrontation.  Like you, I’ve seen the clips and heard the commentary quite enough.  But there has been one important point passed over by all the video voice-overs.  Not one analyst has connected the cross-state pigskin pugilism with the pigs-in-the-Statehouse politics that passes for leadership in our state.  When a prominent player is quoted, “Our goal is to inflict as much pain as possible.  It is not good enough to win; it has to be a painful and devastating defeat.  We’re sending a message here.  It is like when the king would take his opponent’s head and stick it on a pike for everyone to see...,” are we talking football or are we talking politics?  Details after the weather...    [December 1, 2004]

The elections for 2004 are over.  Television is back to normal -- and all the trash-talking, mud-slinging, name-calling, and character assinations are just entertainment again.  Now, we're ready to face the big issues in South Carolina.  Will there be pigs in the Statehouse again?  Will anyone be wearing seatbelts?  Will there be more pushing and shoving in the Blatt building?  Where is the lottery money going?  And where are the good guys?     [November 19, 2004]

During all the campaign rhetoric this year, each side – liberal and conservative – has, at some point, characterized the other side as unintelligent, uncaring, unable, unworthy, unpatriotic, un-Christian, uninformed, and more other ‘uns than we can count.  My fear is that they may actually believe that stuff after the voting is over – as they would have us believe it before the voting starts.  The following is my list of the top ten things I hope each winner will remember when he or she begins representing all of us – whether we’re like them or unlike them.  [October 20, 2004]

Our democracy guarantees that I can believe what I want – and that I can participate in that democracy no matter what I believe – and no matter how many others believe as I do.  Recent comments by folks running for office seem to discount beliefs and rights other than their own – and those of others who believe as they do.  In this election year, the difference is defined as conservative versus liberal.  What could be next?  Blue eyes versus brown eyes?  Or some other equally meaningless difference in the way we are?  [October 16 2004]

Catholic Criteria for Elected Officials

by Steven Millies (The State)
The freedom of the church depends on the liberty of individuals and their right to practice their faith freely. But the reverse also must be true for believers as citizens. The church must not attempt to influence political affairs directly (such as by penalizing believers for how they cast their votes) because such influence politicizes the more important business of salvation.  [May 27, 2004]

Send your comments about our democracy to garywwest@earthlink.net.

 
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