Truth and Consequences

This week it is the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Next week it is the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. A lot of words will be said, shouted, spittled and broadcast everywhere. By both parties. But the tone and agenda of the messages have been around for a very long time.

For republicans the Clinton name has been anathema since the late 1980’s and throughout the 1990’s. When Hillary’s name cropped up as a presidential candidate the republicans went into high gear to continue the onslaught of their hyperbole. Unproven all, but cast out on the waters as truth.

But such really isn’t the truth.

The Clintons have been vilified by political enemies for decades now. Why do you suppose that is? After all is said and done probably upwards of $100 million has been spent on accusing the Clintons – both Bill and Hillary – of illegal acts. Not one court case ever was decided against them. But they were dragged through the process nonetheless. And that’s just what their political enemies wanted: create an atmosphere of smoke and claim there must be a fire somewhere in there!

Only there wasn’t. Just envy, and the realization that the Clintons were smart, savvy, informed, educated and willing to lead with ideas and programs that actually address the needs of the nation. That’s risky business of course. Nothing good ever came from not taking risks. And the republicans – being business people and entrepreneurs and such – should know that risks always must be taken if progress is to result.

Come to think of it that’s the problem in a nutshell, isn’t it? The republicans reacted to the Clintons. They reacted to the Viet Name War. They reacted to prosperity and misspent it to a huge recession bordering on depression. They destroyed the banking system in the process and the real estate business and mortgage banking industry. And then they reacted to every little bit of repair work that needed to be done but by then they were no longer in the White House so they obstructed the repairs to their own debacles. They didn’t want to be blamed for the debacle in the first place, but then they didn’t want a Democrat to get the credit for fixing a very broken system.

So accuse the President in the White House at the time – Obama – of everything you can think of so people will say he is the most failed president in history.

No, that’s the Bush years that earned that sobriquet. Obama has weathered his 8 years with poise, grace, intelligence and policy creation that makes sense both in the eyes of his own citizens and that of the world community as well. In fact the global community wonders what is wrong with Americans that they don’t value the massive talent of Obama who serves so very well indeed. The world community is envious of the Obama's and America. But they scratch their heads over how the Obama's are treated.

Well might they wonder.

But then the consequences of what the republicans have done for 25 to 30 years becomes ever more evident watching the current republican convention. Their agenda is quite simple:

-Claim wild statements as truth regardless of the facts.

-Claim the world is crumbling and America is at the center of the destruction

-Claim only republicans can set the country and world right again

How they can claim on that when the facts point in the opposite direction is beyond me. But then republicans haven’t been very logical or truthful these past many years. They lean on misspeak continually and hope that if it is repeated often enough then it must miraculously turn into the truth.

Trouble is it doesn’t. Truth is truth. Fact is fact. History is history. Read. Learn. Piece together the real story. And then tremble at the misrepresentations being made by republican leaders.

The hyperbole is classic negative politics. I’m sure we will witness some of the same during the Democratic Convention. It is part of the American political landscape. Not a pretty element of our landscape but evidently a permanent one at that.

Communities are built by working together on common problems. Common causes focus energy and purpose very well. That’s what brings groups, communities and regions together. And so it does nations as well.  All of my blog posts make this point over and over again. Nations are built by all of us working together toward common goals.

Americans have more in common than they do differences. We have our diversity of skin, ethnicity, cultures, religions and so much more. But those are differences that enrich our social tapestry. It comes from our ‘everyone-is-an-immigrant’ story. It is what has made us great.

This strength that has made us great is being attacked as though it is a weakness. That’s the opposite of what it is. Those who don’t agree are mostly frightened that they are witnessing their life force ebbing away. What they ought to be seeing because it is in front of their very face, is that our life force – the life force of our nation – is strong and strengthening because of our broad diversity. Their lives are not fading away, they are growing larger.

Trouble is they are letting other people speak words not of their own making. And feelings, too. So they and you will vote power and riches into their coffers. That’s what this is all about people. Power and riches. Not good deeds, not truth, not full dreams of better tomorrows.

Tearing down our own house to win power and influence is the ultimate destruction of self. It is a form of suicide.

This season of politics is not pretty. It hasn’t been constructive or pretty for a very long time. That is the danger we are now living with.

There is much negative thinking among our citizens. There is suspicion and distrust rampant among us. From this comes fear, anger and defensiveness. One step away is violence. Arming everyone to the teeth ramps up the probability of violence all the more. And when it happens we wonder WHY?

Really? The Why is evident on your TV tube. The spittle is still fresh on the lips of the speaker. A speaker of fiction and vitriol. All for self aggrandizement and power. Oh, and money, too.

The shame clings to us all for being a part of this hideous travesty.

July 20, 2016