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Message to Democrats
Now
that the national election of 2008 is over, the Democratic Party finds
itself in the unenviable position of steering this nation through very
troubled waters. Some major problems, long in the making, are pressing
us sorely. Global warming, unending involvement in Middle East violence,
an economic catastrophe, and a divided nation. One thing remains certain.
There will be no easy remedies.
In light of all these problems, my advice to the Democratic
Party is this: now is not the time for settling down to politics as usual.
Republicans failed to see this, and paid dearly. It would be tragic if
Democrats do the same thing.
Now really is the time for political and cultural reform
in the United States. We have to put aside the animosity and lack of reason
that has already caused so much harm, and start living up to our original
ideals. Obsessions based on power and greed can no longer be tolerated.
We have seen what deception, corruption, poor leadership
and lack of vision has done to the Republican Party. It would be grossly
misleading not to recognize that many of their faults mirror those of
the Democratic Party as well. Don't think that your campaign victory means
that your slate is clean and will remain that way. You won this election
by the support of just over half of those who voted. We're talking about
maybe 25% of the population altogether. In this respect, you are still
a minority party, just like the Republicans always were, but never realized
it. If you expect to keep your slim majority, or increase it, then you
have to work hard and be constantly vigilant. You have to bring American
ideals back to life, and safeguard them from greed and the lust for power.
The following are some suggestions. You can see how
the Republican Party's failure illustrates examples of each, but your
party is not immune either:
- To
start with, you should strictly police your own party for corruption,
not circle the wagons every time something goes wrong. When you protect
the guilty, you take on their guilt. On the other side of the coin,
bad-mouthing the other party when scandal breaks makes you look weak.
- The
nation needs leaders of vision, intelligence, integrity and virtue -
not egomaniacs and extreme ideology. We need representatives who can
make intelligent decisions in an ever-changing world.
- Learn
to reach out to all the American people, not just those who regionally
favor you. The Republicans catered to Evangelicals only to discover,
to their surprise, that most Americans are not of that persuasion, and
resent a national party that caters to a narrow constituency.
- While
it seems natural to be critical of the other party's policies, rhetoric
and opinions, it is important to be just as critical, internally, within
your own. When parties cheapen themselves by tearing each other apart,
what do people have to choose from? America deserves better. We need
noble leaders who are concerned more with honesty, justice and the welfare
of people, than just successful competitors who make all the wrong decisions.
- The
American people are tired of negative campaigns. Intelligent ones don't
fall for it anymore. Those who do should know when they are being pandered
to and even insulted.
We
must not throw away America's potential, its ideals, its hope for the
future of the world, for the lack of true statesmen and the victory of
charlatans.
Overall, you did better than the Republicans in this
year's campaign. You were more honest, more positive, more on top of things.
You had far more impressive candidates. The Republicans, on the other
hand, were weighted down by a history of incompetence, corruption and
misguided principles. Here's to a job well done.
How is it then, all things considered, that you won by such a small number
of votes? It should have been a landslide. What does that tell us?
After so many years of political bickering and propaganda,
it seems that many Americans need to be reminded of what leadership qualities
we need to vote for. Many base their vote on religious affiliation, or
wedge issues that will never be resolved, or regional origins, or the
kind of mediocrity that elicits trust from the insecure. When parties
take advantage of this, as they inevitably do, they foster unnecessary
division.
This is unacceptable for a nation as powerful as the
United States. We have to hold ourselves to higher standards. That starts
with you and your party choices. We need for you to offer high quality,
respectable candidates. Having a governor like Rod Blagojevich
of Illinois makes one wonder what criteria you look at. Is it possible
he showed no signs of corruption beforehand? The Democratic Party should
have been all over this fellow from the start. The only political integrity
you can claim is your people, and the scrutiny you place in them? Integrity
has to be first and foremost.
Don't compete with conservatives on their terms. At
the same time, don't sell yourselves to the liberal extreme. Instead,
think freedom. Think virtue. Think of the possibilities that inspired
our founders.
Think of America.
