I am astonished by modern politics; that said I am not a student of political science so maybe I just don't get it.
I write this post following the re-election of President Obama.
I have always understood that the divide between political parties is characterised by their differing beliefs, and thus policies.
If this is true, why would supporters of President Obama and his policies, and politics, now anticipate that consensus and collaboration by both major political parties should prevail to help implementation of policies that are not universally embraced? Politicians who do not share the views of the elected government are typically said to be in opposition because in general they more oppose than concur with the policies of the elected government.
So why, for the 'good of the country' as so many Democratic supporters now want to claim, should Republicans now defer to Democratic party policies? Wouldn't that be a complete betrayal of their convictions? The same question is relevant for political parties in any democracy.
John F Kennedy's speechwriter and special counsel Ted Sorensen wrote: 'A candidate who trims himself to fit the notions of every group will soon whittle himself down to nothing'.
Perhaps in today's disposable world convictions no longer matter? Perhaps the willingness of past politicians to set aside their convictions has led to today's environment in which no clear and strong leadership from either political parties or individuals emerge? Is this why politics is now driven by charisma and spin?
I could understand that if a significant majority were unified behind one party then the policies of that party could be considered pre-eminent; but if such were the case would not the entire machinery of government be in the hands of a single party? But such is not the case in America.
So what has the political situation in America got to do with me? As an Australian should I care? I believe I should for two reasons.
Why I care #1. I care because the affairs of America, like it or not, influence the entire globe and thus my own future rests to some degree in the hands of some people and successive governments that have contributed to accruing a 16 trillion dollar debt; and this newly returned government in America will almost certainly continue to increase this unimaginable, and ultimately unsustainable, debt. That, folks, is going to affect all of us, irrespective of where we live and vote, at some time in the future, and a future not too far off I suspect.
Why I care #2. I also care because the Australian political landscape is tainted with a circumstance similar to that of America. Our own government, an illegitimate minority party government, is continuously pleading those in opposition to support the implementation of policies which are clearly not consistent with opposition policies. So why then do government ministers continue to browbeat opposing politicians into supporting policies for which they have no stomach? And why do populist commentators and numerous citizens continually criticize the leader of Australia's opposition party for opposing government policies that he does not believe in, or agree with?
Now lest you believe I am just being politically partisan I should clarify my core concern, which is that politicians, of any political persuasion who are without conviction, are diminishing the essence of democracy .
I see a future in which conviction is no longer part of the political process. I fear for the future of democracy. I fear for Australia's future as a democracy.
