Moderation

The photo shows a man yelling at a police officer. A confrontation is happening. Their faces are seven or eight inches apart. The officer is masked during the pandemic. The protester is not masked. Spittle is shown projecting from the man’s angry face and lips as he spreads his anger and frustration to the officer.

And what else, one wonders? COVID infection? More anger? Intransigence and further protest?

In the halls of congress elected representatives are discussing a proposed bill and its intricacies. They come from different perspectives and political thinking. Some are liberal, some are conservatives, and yet many others are centrists. Odds and ends of thought patterns in between these blocs also exist. The body of representatives reflect diversity of thought and need.

Needs. Of constituents. Of place and context. So many odds and ends to consider, to include in the discussion.

America is not of one mind. Nor has it ever been. Differences exist. Diversity exists. Needs exist that are very different depending on their contexts.

In the halls of Congress anger accompanies the differences. Anger used as tactic or strategy? Most likely, yes. There is power in disagreement. Compromise entails give and take. Giving from one to gain  take from another? That is the process of enacting laws in our society. It is not simple. It is not a vote yes or no. the halls of Congress is a place of maybe.

Maybe is also possibility of compromise. Moderation among points of view. Moderation to gain consensus, enough to fuel a vote. Enough votes to enact legislation that moves the pointer of society’s progress. Just a bit of movement of the pointer. Just a mite of action.

The halls of Congress are not about sweeping change.

But the people are restless. They need change. They want change. Will their representatives finally get down to accomplishing the will of the people?

Thirty years of cat fights in the House and the Senate. Aren’t we all fed up with this yet?

January 28, 2021