America's Political Primer

We have been talking about many issues these past several years. Most are very important to all of us. Work these issues to their perfection, or solve the problems they represent to us, and life will be much better. At least that is what we feel; and think, too. But I wonder.

I wonder if we threw out keywords one at a time in brainstorm fashion, what we would come up with. What would these words be? Would they have a connection? Any connection at all? Would they point out a direction we could pursue to push the issues forward to another plateau of possibility, evolution, synergistic genius that would forever change how the peoples of the world live? In peace? In comfort? In health?

If this were true, what would we the people of the world do with it?

I suspect we would find ways to fight over it. Like kids in the playground. Like adults in the sports arena. Like human beings tinkering with a machine until it can operate and win power over someone else. Is that what we face for all eternity? 

I listen to the rhetoric of American politics and shudder. I hear the childish name calling and watch the dirty tricks. I hear accusations of wrong doing without any factual basis. Just say whatever comes into your mind and cast aspersions on your opponent. Nevermind the statement is totally false. The speaker wants the statement to be true even if it isn’t. And maybe if he says it earnestly and craftily enough, you will believe him. And that makes it true in effect, doesn’t it? Bizarre. Totally fictional and bizarre.

Scary even. So I guess I need to start talking basics. What is it people want in today’s political arena? Is it power? Money? Bragging rights? Or is it authority within the governing circles with which to craft a changed society?

I think the latter may be the closest to the mark. But then we urgently wonder what are the desired changes these people want? I will attempt to answer that question here. Let’s see how far I get!

If the issue is control over changing society in some manner, what outcome is desired? I can think of three models in America that have historical significance and currency. Among the three are endless variations which some wordsmiths will attempt to create into several more model names, but I doubt they are anything other than variations of scope of the three models I will identify.

Here are the three models. Very basic:

1. Conservative governance
2. Liberal governance
3. Middle of the Road governance 

Some definitions:

1. Conservative governance philosophy has as its core thought the minimalist role of government, thus keeping power from gathering in the hands of elected elites from interfering with the individual freedoms of the citizens. Under this minimalist ideology government would work to accomplish these basic few things and no more: 

a.       Public order: vehicular traffic, pedestrian and movement of goods and services all affecting the public good and safety. Also public behavior, the police function to maintain standards of behavior and to provide the adjudicatory framework in which justice is processed.

b.      Defense of the national borders against any and all unwanted external incursions by unfriendly powers from other nations. Military strength in personnel, materiel and weaponry designed to defend the nation would be the sole function of this area of endeavor.

c.       Public education of the people of the nation so that they are prepared to do the work necessary to support the nation’s survival and prosperity. This includes research, intellectual development and scientific discovery that maintains basic standards of living.

d.      Public infrastructure necessary for controlling the following:

·         Control of storm water flooding affected by population shifts and land development

·         Quality of water supplies and their distribution to all elements of society

·         Collection of sanitary wastes and safe disposal of same to guarantee the health and safety of the population. 

·         Provision systems of roads, highways and streets to assist the efficient movement of people supporting the overall public good

·         Provide efficient integration of utilities to support the public good: electric, oil, natural gas and other energy sources; also electronic communications of all sorts

e.       A system that protects public health and access to healthcare as efficiently as possible. 

2. Liberal governance philosophy believes in the worth of the individual and the concurrent need that standards of life quality should be guaranteed at some level to maintain decency of human life within out society. This decency extends protections toward people who have been challenged by differences of ability to live fully independent lives or who, by the accident of birth, need a helping hand to achieve their full potential. This ideology includes the basic governance elements of the Conservative ideology and extends it in this manner: 

1. Education
2. Health
3. Food and Drug Safety
4. National Energy Policy and Programs
5. National Transportation Policy and Programs
6. Economic Management and Development
7. National Housing Police and Programs
8. Veterans Affairs Programs
9. Programs for Aging and Disabled
10. Civil Rights and Social Justice
11. Other 

The ‘other’ included above might better be stated as “Perfecting the Social Contract”. This concept extends governance in many ways to include quality of life initiatives in an attempt to provide the realization of each citizen’s full potential.

3. Middle of the Road governance is a political ideology that accepts much from both the conservative and liberal ideologies but focuses on the more practical side of life – What can we reasonably expect to accomplish with the resources available? Many subscribers to the middle of the road philosophy feel their approach to governance is a more perfect blend of both of the other ideologies. Here’s a basic brief on this position: 

First, centrists believe true conservatism is too severe and not caring enough for the welfare of individual citizens. Although conservatives believe that charitable organizations, churches and individuals will make up for what the government does not provide centrists feel too many needs go unaddressed with this liaissez faire attitude.

Second, centrists believe liberalism goes too far and manages or controls life quality where individual initiative should be nurtured. Centrists also believe the liberal approach is too costly and takes too much of society’s resources, thus restricting individual investment and economic development.

A question of balance is constantly in motion within the centrist ideology. Thus a frank questioning and research of most points under discussion is supported in order to discover practical priorities and decision making.

This primer will do for now. We will revisit each from time to time before the election to determine how these three political ideologies compete for votes. As a primer the reader is cautioned: there has been much written on all three ideologies. Ours is but a tiny view of the basics to begin a discussion.

Other ideologies exist as well but they are far from the mainstream and are currently footnotes to a broader discussion.

August 17, 2016