THE paramount question for America: Can we find a democratic way to govern? Blue and Red, conservative and liberal, Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street – all express our divisiveness and disunity. The broad value of personal liberty or individual freedom is becoming a thing of the past as the forces for eclectic authoritarianism spread. This will lead us more and more toward a police state.
The social issues seem to dominate the business of Congress and state legislatures as they challenge the civil rights of their citizens. These are some of the divisive issues of today:
1) Attacks on family planning by politicizing women's health issues around birth control and abortion; for example, the recent Mississippi "Personhood" amendment (defeated by voters early this year) would have lead to the elimination of birth control and choice.
2) Elimination of religious freedom by legislating Christianity (Tennessee's new law requiring "creationism" to be taught in public schools). Fundamentally, religion is based on belief systems, and all must be available to the individual under "freedom of religion," but not legislated.
3) Effectively reducing voting rights by requiring complicated registration requirements and photo identifications, etc. What is wrong with the notion of universal voting in a democracy? Raise your hand and mark a ballot; find ways to make it convenient to the voter, and for all who wish to vote!
In my view, conservatives would best be focusing on discussing sensible solutions to the many serious financial and structural economic problems facing the nation. There is much to be done in terms of balancing the federal budget (and stopping the continuous borrowing) and paying-down the national debt. Why aren't serious conservative politicians in Washington D.C., for example, calling for the recognition/passage of the "Buffett amendment" and reducing wasteful corporation subsidies! Is no one listening to the serious economists, and even a political pundit, such as, Buddy Roemer's even-handed evaluations?
Bruce Karolle,
Guam and Vernon, Conn.
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Letter to the Editor 
Political polarization in America: the time for bipartisanship and cooperation?
Political polarization in America: the time for bipartisanship and cooperation?
Political polarization in America: the time for bipartisanship and cooperation?
- Tuesday, 15 May 2012 03:30am
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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