In a little more than two and a half months, we will be asked to make some serious decisions about the leadership in our government. Normally, midterm elections draw about 48 to 55 per cent of the total registered U.S. electorate. That’s pretty low for a country that prides itself on being the guardian of the principles of freedom and democratic representation. This year, however, that number may change and turnout might be better than that, but better for a bad reason; namely the extreme divisiveness of this country’s political climate. One of the "angels of our better nature" in politics is the idea of compromise. But lately, compromise seems to be a concept in danger of extinction. This week the Democrat leader of the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer is leading his party's cheering section in celebration of the “compromise” reached with Senator Joe Manchin to pass Biden’s rebuilt "Build Back Better" bill, aka the Inflation Reduction Act. Senator Manchin was a hold out in the Democrat's crusade to revive President Biden's bloated climate change, inflation reducing, medicare boosting government rescue plan. It was inspiring to see Manchin's independent, common sense thinking. He was beginning to remind us of what real statesmanship looked like. But sadly, it didn't last. Manchin caved in and swapped his concern for the nation for a pipeline back home in West Virginia. Interestingly, Senator Schumer forgot, in his praise of Senator Manchin, to mention that they both belong to the same political party. How odd, you might say? If that’s Schumer’s understanding of the concept and utility of compromise, then folks I’m afraid we’re in worse shape than anyone thought. Compromise used to mean that opposing parties each gave a little. Compromise used to be an essential element in the recipe for creating and sustaining “one nation under God”. What Schumer and Manchin did had nothing to do with compromise. Sadly, the dark deal reached between the West Virginia Senator and Chuck Schumer not only stomped out any tender green sprouts of principled politics, but it also reinstated the smokey, suspicious smell of pork, pay-offs and political candy. Well, as we all know, some things never change, right? No, let me take that back. For the next 90 days or so, we will see all kinds of changes. It will look like 5th grade gymnastics class as state and national candidates are miraculously flipping and spinning in ways that are amazing to behold. From defunding the police or not, to border security or not, to controlling inflation, there will be more changing positions and promises and redefinitions of words like "recession" than we could ever imagine. It will be hard to recognize anybody or anything. So in the midst of all that just try to remember who you are and all those other people in the house with you too. I.D. cards might be a good idea.
