Daring Depravity

It appears that Republicans and Democrats can agree on one item: spying on the American People is a good thing.  The two groups voted overwhelmingly together to re-authorize the PATRIOT Act for another year, with no modifications.

I am glad that in this tough time of Partisanship, the Democrats dug deep and worked with the Republicans to advance their agenda.  Good work “Liberals”.

Chris Caldwell, editor of the Weekly Standard (someone who I typically would not quote) had a thought provoking article in the Financial Times Weekend edition.  In this, he outlines the problems in Washington, that Democrats and Republicans are split into two camps, summarizing neatly:

“For three decades, centrism has been a declining force in American life. Arguments over the sustainability of the postwar welfare state have split politicians into two camps – one keen on consolidating government programmes, the other keen on dismantling them. There is not much room for negotiation here.”

This is a pretty good point that many Liberals cannot seem to grasp.  Although the author above wants to dismantle the post war welfare state, at least he makes no apologies for what he believes.  The Republican Party is not a responsible partner in creating new government policy; Republicans want to destroy government.  They want to dismantle the welfare state, and privatize social security, medicare, and all government services.  There is a range as to how fast the programs should be dismantled, but there is now doubt among their caucus: their first priority is to destroy and privatize the government.

There is not much room for negotiation there.  And the record of Bipartisanship of the past 8 years not stellar either.  As Caldwell points out, the main accomplishments of the Bi-Partisanship of the past 8 years are the following: No Child Left Behind, the Iraq War, and the TARP Bank Bailout, all of which are terribly unpopular with the general population.  One that Caldwell leaves out is the appointment of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, which directly led to the Citizens United election privatization of 2010.  The public disapproves of this by up to 80% in a recent poll.

Bipartisanship has lead to terrible policies, but more so, bipartisanship only appears to lead to Republican Policies.  Working together means doing what the Republicans want: dismantle the government, except for the Pentagon, which needs to find reasons to exist and get more funding.  Not working together means providing healthcare to citizens, protecting social security, and any number of other government programs.

Its time to get past the bipartisan lie, and start to accomplish something for the base on which President Obama was elected from.  It is time to use the power of the government to protect the citizens, and provide them with services, reigning in private power.  If this is being Partisan, then so be it.

An interesting discussion on NPR yesterday discussed the modern vision of where Bipartisanship in the Congress comes from.  Richard Nixon, in 1972 used the term 4 times, imploring Congress to Pass his agenda.  He was reaching out to Pro-War, anti Civil Rights Democrats who had no place in their Party because of their views.

So, when President Obama claims he is reaching out for Bipartisanship, is he asking for Moderate Republicans, who are pro Health Care to side with the Democrats in Passing his agenda?  Or, is what he is really saying is that he wants to recruit Republicans to side with moderate Democrats to pass reductions to “entitlement” programs, such as Social Security and Medicare?

This morning, on Meet The Press, House Minority Leader John Boehner stated that the Republicans had been perfectly willing to work with the President on issues that Republicans like: Expanding the Pentagon, Nuclear Power, and more troops to the War in Afghanistan.

So, basically, Bipartisanship is excellent, as long as you agree with the Republicans, and advance their agenda.  If you try to pass anything mildly Progressive, you are radically remaking society, turning over power to the Government, etc and must be stopped.  If you want more war, a bigger pentagon, and other terrible things for our society, then can’t we all just get a long?