{"id":1384,"date":"2013-01-31T06:10:26","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T11:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1384"},"modified":"2013-01-31T06:25:56","modified_gmt":"2013-01-31T11:25:56","slug":"hating-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1384","title":{"rendered":"hating politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

I hate politics.\u00a0 Ok, so really… that\u2019s kind of a lie.\u00a0 Sorry, I attempt to be transparent.\u00a0 I\u2019m also very human.\u00a0 While several of you consider yourselves among that camp (a camp that includes my very respected spouse),<\/em> I do not <\/em>hate politics.\u00a0 If, however, there were ever days when the Intramuralist was most tempted, Monday and Tuesday were two.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From this semi-humble vantage point, politics is a tool that is best used as an ethical, responsible means to govern and assist people.\u00a0 When I come to the proverbial breaking point where the thought of \u201chate\u201d creeps into my head, it\u2019s typically prompted by a distortion of that responsible means \u2014 typically, too, made manifest via the perception of either arrogance or self-servingness.\u00a0 It\u2019s a point where what\u2019s best for the country seems secondary to some other motive \u2014 a motive which may or may not be able to be discerned with certainty.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Afford me first the grace to offer both caveat and confession…<\/p>\n

All parties and all people are capable of arrogance.\u00a0 All parties and people are capable of self-servingness.\u00a0 I<\/em> am equally capable.\u00a0 Note:\u00a0 neither Democrats nor Republicans are overwhelmingly noted for their outstanding ethics; neither is known to consistently put what\u2019s best for the country first.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hence, follow the sequence of events leading to Monday and Tuesday…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Pres. Bush and Pres. Obama promised to enact immigration reform.\u00a0 Bush promised it within term 2; Obama promised it within year 1 of term 1.\u00a0 Neither prioritized such as promised.\u00a0 With arguably up to 12 million persons living in this country illegally \u2014 impacting our workplace, healthcare system, etc. \u2014 this is an issue that undoubtedly has bipartisan appeal (hence, the promises)<\/em>… hence, also, why the Intramuralist believes this is not a partisan issue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Consistent with that thinking, on Monday, a group of 8 leading senatorial voices (which included Dick Durbin, John McCain, Marco Rubio, and Chuck Schumer)<\/em> excitedly and incredibly respectfully announced the bipartisan agreement they crafted in order to deal with this challenge well.\u00a0 Look at the polls.\u00a0 Citizens have no desire for \u201cliberal rule,\u201d \u201cconservative rule,\u201d or anyone\u2019s dictatorship; they want \u2014 we<\/em> want \u2014 effective, bipartisan agreement.\u00a0 American citizens do not seem to believe that one party has the complete and always correct way.\u00a0 Hence, Monday\u2019s bipartisan agreement \u2014 where both Democrats and Republicans had to \u201cgive\u201d on something and were still<\/em> excited about it \u2014 seemed a potential, effective solution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That solution may still exist.\u00a0 It may not.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the President decided it was necessary to announce his<\/em> immigration proposal.\u00a0 He flew to Las Vegas and back to D.C. solely to deliver this address (note:\u00a0 such a trip costs taxpayers an estimated $1.6 million).<\/em>\u00a0 While commending the senators for their announced actions, Obama added that the Senate must move fast, saying, “If Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away.”\u00a0<\/em> The President\u2019s proposal seemingly differs from the mixed group of senators in that it does not require border security prior to offering free legal status.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As a person who (does not)<\/em> hate politics \u2014 and questions this of all parties \u2014 I question the motive of the President\u2019s speech.\u00a0 Was the proposed bipartisan solution not enough?\u00a0 Was the senators’ joint excitement not ample to keep the momentum rolling toward achieving what\u2019s best for our country?\u00a0 Or does there exist some secondary motive \u2014 something that true, we cannot discern with certainty?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the White House Press Secretary\u2019s daily Monday briefing, Jay Carney added the following:\u00a0 “I think it’s important <\/em>before we let the moment pass<\/em><\/strong> to acknowledge that the progress we’re seeing embodied in the principles put forward by this bipartisan group is happening for a reason: I think it’s happening because consensus is developing in the country, a bipartisan consensus, and it’s happening <\/em>because the President<\/em><\/strong> has demonstrated significant leadership on this issue.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>[emphasis mine]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the President.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 President Bush?\u00a0 President Obama?\u00a0 My sense is that who is responsible pales in comparison to actual solution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wait. \u00a0Allow me one more significant tangent prior to this post’s end…<\/p>\n

If you find yourself excessively irritated or joyfully ‘amen-ing’ at today’s dialogue, please be aware of the prodigious potential for\u00a0naivet\u00e9 on each of our parts. \u00a0Know that persons from both parties have secondary motives, and also know that no<\/em> politician is exempt from hidden motive, regardless of how much of our admiration they tend to attract.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ok, ok… enough… \u00a0I don\u2019t really hate<\/em> politics. \u00a0It’s just that sometimes both parties really tempt me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Respectfully,<\/p>\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I hate politics.\u00a0 Ok, so really… that\u2019s kind of a lie.\u00a0 Sorry, I attempt to be transparent.\u00a0 I\u2019m also very human.\u00a0 While several of you consider yourselves among that camp (a camp that includes my very respected spouse), I do not hate politics.\u00a0 If, however, there were ever days when the Intramuralist was most tempted, … <\/p>\n

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