So, probably like everyone else in the class, my post is going to mention the State of the Union Address. Obama started off the speech by taking note of the Tucson shooting and praying for the health of Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Obama then takes note of how bitter and contentious public debate in the US has become in the past two years and says that the shooting "gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater – something more consequential than party or political preference".
Here's something we should be asking ourselves however: What does it say about us as a country when it takes six people shot to death to finally make us realize that actual civil discourse has become nonexistent, and has instead been replaced by hateful, partisan and toxic shouting matches?
The US Congress responded to this tragedy by having a few representatives and senators from opposite parties sit side by side at the State of the Union address. Is that it? How is this one-time gesture going to improve debate in the US Congress?
If the state of public discourse is to improve in this country we need more than half-assed symbolic gestures. We need both parties to stop demonizing the other side as if they're baby eaters. The past two years should have been proof enough that this kind of "debate" does not help in actually passing laws. Look at the health-care bill. By demonizing the Democrats, the Republicans ended up with a bill that had absolutely nothing they liked, rather than a compromise. Meanwhile, Democrats were able to pass very few laws by refusing to compromise with Republicans.
Honestly though, I'm cynical. I think the Tucson shooting will probably be forgotten in months and public discourse will return to its previous toxic level. Because while this kind of "debate" doesn't help pass laws, it sure as hell does help politicians scare voters into supporting them.
I don't necessarily agree that the shooting will be forgotten in a couple months, but I do agree that this one-time gesture, as you say, will not improve anything in the long run. I watched part of the Address and saw this, but it seemed it was only for show.
ReplyDeletePoliticians will be politicians; I'm a cynic too. This lack of public discourse is historically American. And so is the violence. Aaron Burr, an anti-Federalist (advocated strict interpretation of the Constitution), shot and killed Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist, in a dual. The Civil War occurred after the conservative Democratic South seceded from the North with it's Republican majority. Even after these tragic events, there is still a bitterness in Washington. However, thus is the nature of a democracy, or at least a Republican democracy. What are the alternatives? Communism? Absolute Monarchy? Although there is a lack of good discourse, the American people still hold power. The majority of Congress has, at least for the past half century, went back and forth. If the American people aren't happy, they're sure to be heard.
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