Governing then and now...

John Adams was the second President of the United States. He made this simple statement that, although humorous, is tantalizingly attractive today:

“I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a disgrace, that two become a law firm, and that three or more become a congress.”

Way back in the early days of our nation; from one of its founding fathers; a short, direct statement that we could think was written today! I guess this governance business doesn’t change much. People give other people trouble. Minds are hard to match up to form agreement. The same is true today.

The dynamic is important. It causes our decisions to be well thought out before adopting into policy or law. These things should not be easy or our governance will be sloppy. Yet, it should not be impossible to perform. And today it appears so. Impossible.

I’m reminded of the illegal immigration issue that has plagued recent presidencies. Each incumbent has attempted to address the problem but with no success because congress has failed to make necessary compromises to effect policy. Some of you may remember George W. Bush tried to address the issue when he was new in the White House. As a former Texas governor he understood the heartache and drama of the issue. So his proposals were vetted through John McCain, who was also a border state politician who was sensitive to the issue. To the chagrin of both Bush and McCain, congress threw a fit and would not even consider discussing the proposals.

Then McCain became a presidential candidate and threw the same roadblocks in front of the issue as did his earlier opponents when confronting candidate Obama’s ideas for solving the dilemma. A no go if you recall! Slightly different time; same issue; same ideas; virulently opposed. Odd isn’t it?

Now Obama is President and he has tried for nearly four years to get this issue before congress for a reasoned solution. Another no go. So he makes an executive order to freeze deportment actions against illegal aliens brought to our nation when they were babies. And the opponent politicians in congress and candidate Romney are ridiculously opposed. Same old rot. Same old inaction. If it weren’t so funny, it would be tragic. Come to think of it, it is still a tragedy for all concerned. A major failure of the American system.

Buddha opined a long time ago:

“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth. Not going all the way, and not starting.”

Both of these mistakes appear self evident in the public discussion and management of immigration policy. You would think that mature persons could come to an agreement for the good of the country and all its people. I don’t want a king in this situation, but it would be great if we had the wisdom of King Solomon! Or a culture of adulthood up to the task.

Under the banner “Choose your words wisely” from Facebook, comes this quote:

“It’s easier to build up a child than it is to repair an adult.”

This may be the operative dynamic today: Malfeasance in adulthood emanates from inattention when a child? Perhaps. Or maybe as a parent we didn’t get it then so we don’t understand how today’s adult came to be this way? Yet in the mirror it becomes more obvious.

Perhaps we need a better model to follow? To raise a child and find comity among individuals? A road to compromise that has integrity? A culture that values truth seeking?

Might this possibly result in a better governance process? Or are we just too impatient to let the logic seek its proper end? A riddle in need of a solution!

June 24, 2012