Politics Wars—A New Hope

By Hank Silverberg

One thing I continue to hear from many people across the country as we move towards the November mid-term elections is the worry that the Democrats provide no real options for Americans. The voters see no leader in the Democratic Party who can step forward and counter the country’s dramatic slant to the right. They don’t see it in the current leadership, but are more worried that they don’t see any new hope on the horizon, such as someone younger than 50.    

The old school Democrats like Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) or House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) are really not leading anything but an anti-Trump movement, which by itself can not move us forward again. Someone, from somewhere, must come forward and take charge.

It presents the scenario where Trump and his rubber stamp, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will succeed in rolling back all the progressive strides our country has made over the last 40 years. It could go beyond the occasional pendulum swing from left to right and back again,  that has occurred throughout our country's history.  

Part of the problem, of course, is the media. A poll taken in August is an example. In that poll, nearly half the Republicans surveyed - 44%, believed the president should have the power to close news outlets for bad behavior.  Yes, you read that right, “close news outlets for bad behavior.”

   

That is a startling number of people who do not understand the First Amendment or the basic concept of American Democracy.  Sixty-eight percent of Democrats asked, believed reporters try their best to do honest reporting, while only 29% of Republicans agreed.  That's a bit better, but still disheartening. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/07/trump-should-able-close-news-outlets-republicans-say-poll/925536002/

 The poll also found 29% who believed the news media was the “enemy of the people.” Certainly that's a sad number. But even more startling was the second half of that sentence in the USA Today story on the poll.

“Twenty-nine percent, nearly a third, of the more than 1,000 people polled said they believed the news media was the enemy of the people, a phrase that was coined and popularized by President Donald Trump".

That kind of reporting makes my skin boil. It makes me want to scream. Why?  Because the phrase “enemy of the people” had a long bloody history before Mr. Trump was even born. The reporters and editors at this major newspaper should know that.    

“Ennemi du people” was used during the French Revolution in the 1790’s, often before some unfortunate soul had his head chopped off by a guillotine.

Henrik Ibsen used the phrase as the title of his 1882 play "Enemy of the People".  It was a  sarcastic protest of attacks on him after his book “Ghosts," talked openly about adultery, syphilis and the hypocrisy of Victorian morality.  

More recently "enemy of the people" was used by both the Communists in the Soviet Union and the Nazis in Germany to describe the people they murdered outright or sent to their death in gulags and concentration camps. 

A major newspaper should not make that kind of mistake. Five minutes of research on the Internet would have gotten it right. So,  it is not totally surprising that the public is losing faith in journalists.

But having noted all this negativity in the past week I must add a sliver of hope that came from, of all places, the checkout line at a local supermarket. I live in a community that is very purple. My county went for Trump in the 2016 election, but is now involved in a hot congressional race (VA-7th), that could help Democrats retake control of Congress.     

As the cashier rang up my small bag of groceries I noticed she had forgotten to charge me for the blueberries my wife loves in her smoothie. There were five people behind me in the line. I pointed out the discrepancy, because to walk out with the blueberries, not paid for, would have been dishonest. She added the blueberries to the total. Then, before I remembered where I was, I blurted out: 

“Even in Donald Trump’s America, I will not cheat.” 

That kind of comment, in some places these days can lead to shouting, a fight or worse. But in this case the big smile on the cashier’s face was topped with applause and smiles from the five other people on line.

Americans are still a good, honest, hardworking people. The biggest threats to our democracy do not come from the media, or immigrants, or even foreign terrorists. The threat could come from the lack of leadership and tunnel vision by those now in power who seem unable to look ahead and see danger. We face challenges on everything from climate change to increased public ignorance. It’s something we all should think about. If you can lead with compassion, then do so. If you can follow with knowledge and responsibility, then do so. Otherwise, just get out of the way of those who can.

(A new feature on my blog this week.)  

News Notes:

NYPD says October 12-14 was the first weekend in 25 years when there were NO shootings in the city of eight million people. No shootings!  It is part of a decade-long reduction in crime in NYC and across the country. It’s attributed to many things, including the aging of the Baby Boomers, better gun control and community policing. No one leader or party can take credit for it!       

Also of note this week, the Red Sox/Dodgers World Series. Its the first time these storied franchises have met in the Fall Classic since 1916. Fenway Park was only four years old and the Dodgers, then still officially called the Robins, played in Brooklyn.   A 21 year old pitcher named Babe Ruth won game two for the Sox, who took the series 4-1. Ruth was 0 for 5 at the plate. 

(Your Comments and suggestions are welcome)

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