This morning I was able to view Mike Huckabee's talk to the Conservative Political Action Committee. His reception was only slightly more friendly than that given McCain yesterday. Like Obama he has the oritorical skills to communicate his vision and ideals. Unlike McCain, his statement of belief in the equality and dignity of all human life was not accompanied by an insistance that this an exclusive conservative value.
I suspect his experience as a clergyman has made him aware that this ideal is in the hearts of most of us. In fact it is also at the center of the liberal democracy that makes America the beacon of freedom to millions around the world. And in politics it is in the soul of the liberal idea. A corolary liberal view is that in America the government serves at the conscent of the governed. The past twenty years this ideal has been eroded to the point when it is clear that neither political party any longer even takes note of this liberal ideal.
The infusion of vast amounts of money into the process is indicative of the loss of these ideals by both parties. The very language most candidates for president use reveals this loss also. "Elect ME and I will solve your problems." I can hear this phrase clearly said again by many of our major candidates and his or her party label bears no correlation to his or her willingnes to say it over and over again.
Those few candidates who are willing to say "let solve these problems by working together" are roundly attacked by both party establishments. The records and oratory of John McCain and Barack Obama are of this vein. I think the amazing awakening of the American Voter this year is the remergence of the citizens who feel in their gut that democracy cannot function without citizen participation. The message of solidarity moves us to action, the message of polarity pertifies us. This year many citizens are voting with their bodies and showing up to hear and to vote for those candidates who talk solidarity (an obviously liberal ideal) and not polarity.
The behaviour of the major political parties has progressively alienated more and more of their members to the point where most Americans are neither Democrat nor Republican. In my own state a few years ago we even elected an independent as Governor. It turned out that he not only had no traditional political affiliation he had no political philosophy at all.
I'm not sure this post moves me closer to my intended discussion of what I have labels the "Human Rights Dilemma". Perhaps next post I can get back to the story.
I suspect his experience as a clergyman has made him aware that this ideal is in the hearts of most of us. In fact it is also at the center of the liberal democracy that makes America the beacon of freedom to millions around the world. And in politics it is in the soul of the liberal idea. A corolary liberal view is that in America the government serves at the conscent of the governed. The past twenty years this ideal has been eroded to the point when it is clear that neither political party any longer even takes note of this liberal ideal.
The infusion of vast amounts of money into the process is indicative of the loss of these ideals by both parties. The very language most candidates for president use reveals this loss also. "Elect ME and I will solve your problems." I can hear this phrase clearly said again by many of our major candidates and his or her party label bears no correlation to his or her willingnes to say it over and over again.
Those few candidates who are willing to say "let solve these problems by working together" are roundly attacked by both party establishments. The records and oratory of John McCain and Barack Obama are of this vein. I think the amazing awakening of the American Voter this year is the remergence of the citizens who feel in their gut that democracy cannot function without citizen participation. The message of solidarity moves us to action, the message of polarity pertifies us. This year many citizens are voting with their bodies and showing up to hear and to vote for those candidates who talk solidarity (an obviously liberal ideal) and not polarity.
The behaviour of the major political parties has progressively alienated more and more of their members to the point where most Americans are neither Democrat nor Republican. In my own state a few years ago we even elected an independent as Governor. It turned out that he not only had no traditional political affiliation he had no political philosophy at all.
I'm not sure this post moves me closer to my intended discussion of what I have labels the "Human Rights Dilemma". Perhaps next post I can get back to the story.
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