For the last several years, the Intramuralist has published a “State of the Government” analysis in conjunction with the President’s annual State of the Union address. The state of the government is “too partisan, too influenced by money, too big, too financially imbalanced, and too far removed from the Constitution,” we have repeatedly opined. With last Tuesday marking Pres. Barack Obama’s final SOTU, I’d like to focus on an angle embedded in that analysis that has become seemingly more pronounced these past seven years; in fact, it’s the one angle that the President acknowledged Tuesday as a “regret” of his tenure. “The rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better,” he said. Too many have fueled and supported the division.
My sense is that faith in our government has continued to erode largely due to this partisan division. Politicians and pundits seem to speak out of both sides of their mouths, acknowledging the dangers of division on one hand, but then chastising or encouraging it on the other. Responsibility, therefore, is something that most denounce and defer.
Everybody likes to blame everyone else. Everyone likes to point the finger elsewhere. And most everyone who pronounces their dismay regarding the division — conveniently absolving self of any responsibility — is in this observer’s semi-humble opinion, either embracing denial or deceit.
For example…
Republicans — who intentionally chose to block every legislative effort of this President so he would have zero policy victories — have fueled the division.
Democrats — who utilized obscure budget reconciliation rules to overhaul healthcare at the onset of Obama’s tenure, without a single Republican vote — have fueled the division.
Voters — who have opposed Obama solely because of the color of his skin — have fueled the division.
Voters — who have supported Obama solely because of the color of his skin — have fueled the division.
Pres. Obama — who like several of his predecessors, has utilized Executive Orders in order to bypass differing opinion — has fueled the division.
The candidates (save Dr. Ben Carson, arguably the most civil person running for President) — who repeat inflammatory rhetoric or call the other party their “enemy” — have fueled the division.
And we — when we’ve fallen prey to the silent hubris that the division will only diminish when everyone can be cloned (or verbally pounded) into finally thinking like “us,” the only people who truly get it — then we have fueled and supported the division, too.
Know what’s missing in each of the above?
Humility.
I wish, no less, the Intramuralist had some unifying magic wand to wave and end this disturbing digression. I suggest we instead start with self — no longer being seduced by the divisive rhetoric that each of the above far too easily employ.
Faith in our government has eroded. The state of the government is too divided. The reality is that many have contributed to the obtrusive, deep divide.
What should we require of ourselves? What should we require of those who represent us?
Humility? … or hubris?
Which will we choose?
Respectfully…
AR