Political Reality

As we depart from the swell of national pride inspired by our recent July 4th birthday celebration, it is time now to deal with the political reality of the present. Our founding fathers were visionaries but not flawless prognosticators. They relied on their then historical perspective where they were subjects of a monarchy and, in pursuit of independence, decided they wanted something else. They knew they didn’t want a king or any one individual who would be the ultimate decision-maker. Hence our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other founding principles.

Today’s reality is one of personal greed wrapped in a cloak of Christian morality being used to create a period of gross inequality. Wealth equals political power in a way that was never intended. Our founding documents, much like the teachings of the Bible, are being twisted to conform to desired outcomes. Our laws and the interpretation of those laws no longer represent the will of the majority so much as it fulfills the needs of a few.

Let’s take gun violence, the right to bear arms, and the will of the majority of the people. The writers of the 2nd amendment never envisioned a time when the mentally ill would be able to purchase a firearm like an AR15, body armor, unlimited clips of ammunition, and walk into a school, synagogue, church, or crowd of July 4th celebrants and begin shooting at random for no apparent reason.

Whatever your thoughts on the rights of our citizens to bear arms, no right-thinking American would promote such a concept. In fact, virtually every poll taken in recent memory finds that the majority of Americans want some limits to be placed on gun accessibility.

If most Americans want limits and a better set of guidelines for gun access, why are our politicians tripping over themselves to pass legislation contrary to popular thoughts on the matter? Just ask Mitt Romney of Utah this question. I’m sure his answer would not be influenced by the fact that the National Rifle Association sent $13.6M in his direction.

The same could be said of the Senate’s “Dirty Dozen,” recipients of NRA cash donations who have collectively received almost $50M. Joining Romney in this auspicious group are Richard Burr (NC), Roy Blunt (MO), Thom Tillis (NC), Marco Rubio (FL), Joni Ernst (IA), Rob Portman (OH), Todd Young (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Tom Cotton (AR), Pat Toomey (PA), and capital track star Josh Hawley (MO). Gun manufacturing and its related industries are a multi-billion-dollar juggernaut that is more than willing to spend money to buy politicians to help promote that industry.

This brings us to abortion. Again, whatever your position on this controversial topic, it is highly doubtful that anyone would condone a law that forces a woman to suffer and perhaps die carrying a dead or non-viable infant to term. Other examples of such cruelty would be child victims of rape or incest, patients undergoing miscarriage compelled to bleed for days and risk sepsis because doctors can’t act, and ectopic pregnancies. Some in the anti-abortion camp perhaps see instances as just described as merely collateral damage in a religious war. They feel justified in their beliefs and want to enforce their will over the will of the majority.

Current polling holds that 61% of Americans want abortion legal in all or most cases. Only 37% say they want it illegal in all or most cases. Similar numbers have existed in all polls taken since 1995. White Protestant, Black Protestant, Catholic, and Unaffiliated polling overwhelmingly support abortion being allowed in all or most cases. The only exception to this would be evangelical White Protestants where 74% want it illegal. This last category represents only 14% of Americans.

So, the next question would be, why are Republicans falling on this religious sword when it would appear that it will hurt them in upcoming elections. I think this is an example of the dog finally catching the car. The relatively small group of evangelicals in the anti-abortion Christian conservative movement would reliably vote Republican while Roe v. Wade made the point moot for the rest of their constituents. Now, after Dobbs, and the haste with which the “Moral Minority” (falsely calling themselves the moral majority for years), advanced draconian legislation without thought or reflection, the backlash is upon them.

The 2024 elections will be a watershed for the Republican cause. It remains to be seen if this will damage them politically. Can they stuff the abortion genie back in the bottle or find enough other distractions to maintain their current majority? Time will tell.

The political reality of today is that any movement forward will be at a glacial pace. Speaking of glaciers, the Earth’s hottest day ever recorded was July 3, 2023. The average global temperature reached 62.62 degrees Fahrenheit. We’ve been recording such things with accuracy since the 1850s. If you have stepped outside in the last two months, you know it is hot. This morning I went out to get the morning paper and I saw a bird yanking a worm out of the ground with an oven mitt.

I won’t go further on climate change beyond saying that we need to make some changes but that won’t happen. If politicians couldn’t be moved to do anything about our gun laws after Sandy Hook beyond their tired “thoughts and prayers,” more complex problems like climate change will have to wait until they install a fan in the debt ceiling.