*Please... Cut the Crap

When You Look At the Facts, Republican Incompetence is Obvious

I saw an article in my news feed Friday saying that Ohio led the nation in job losses for March. Was this despite the fact that the last election left the entire state dominated by Republicans, or because of it? The answer is obvious, and it's obvious nationwide, if you bother to look closely. Since many don't have time to look, I've decided to take on the job myself. The data in this article will prove that, when you vote Republican, you vote for incompetence. Of course, when you listen to their rhetoric, why would you expect otherwise? Their main theme is that government doesn't work, so if they did a good job, they'd undermine everything they claim to believe.

Am I partisan? Yes. I am a Democrat, and I am a liberal. But my first political mentor was a Republican, and there was a time I could vote for the occasional Republican and not feel bad about it. But no more. Not only is the current GOP corrupt and ideologically repulsive; they also demonstrate an immense level of incompetence. 

The Republicans these days are anti-everything, and that's no way to run a government. Our government is supposed to be to do what the democracy tells them to do. Today's Republicans don't just fail to do that; they refuse to. They do whatever they want, regardless of what anyone thinks. There is no equivalence to be made with the current Democratic Party, and this post will show you exactly what I mean. Democrats have a strong record of competence, regardless of whether or not you think they say and/or do the right thing at any one time. 

Exploding the Myth of "Holding Them Accountable"

For the life of me, I will never understand why a small group of progressives thinks that, by pointing out every Democrat's faults, they are somehow "holding politicians accountable." But what really bothers me is that so much of this "holding them accountable" is actually hurting us in the long run.

We live in a democratic republic. What that means is, we elect representatives to act as our proxy in the government. Because of the way  our government is designed, no politician has very much power at all, and can't do much of anything. That includes the president. The government works as a body, not as 536 individuals. There are a series of checks and balances in place, to keep everyone in check. Harry Reid cannot just decide to change filibuster rules. Nancy Pelosi cannot just insert the "public option" into a bill and pass it because you demand that she does so. President Obama cannot simply close the prison at Guantanamo Bay because he promised. 

A politician's list of "campaign promises" are generally little more than a wish list of things he or she would like to get done, if they can persuade a majority to go along with them, and the president can be persuaded to sign. As they govern, they make deals and they cajole and they twist arms, in order to get as many things as possible for their district or state.  

Stop Complaining About Dems. In 2014, Voters Will Still Only Have 2 Choices: Them or Disaster

I know many of the people who read this blog would love to see a "third party" pop up. Unfortunately, our system is built in such a way that all a third party does is weaken one of the other two. This is why the progressive movement keeps failing; we keep hoping for things that can't happen, and we look down on those things that can happen. 

It's important for everyone to realize that elections are the most important element in a democratic republic. They are the linchpin for everything. Marching and occupying is not, in itself, an expression of democracy. If such activism is not followed by effective campaign strategy that puts the best available people in office every single time, then it’s pretty much worthless.

That phrase is key. The BEST AVAILABLE candidate. In a democracy as diverse as ours, the best available candidate will almost never be far left, unless he or she represents a full-on left district. Sorry. 

I know, you don't want to hear that. But here's the thing; the reason there are so many right wingers in the government is because they've embraced the electoral process, and they've adopted, and virtually taken over a major political party, like parasites feeding from a host. And we can't really make progress until we get rid of them. We outnumber them; it should be easy.  Yet, it's not, because they tend to be parasites, using the political party apparatus to make themselves more powerful, while we flail on the outside, and expect the parties to do our bidding.

Cutting the Crap on The "Gerrymandering" Red Herring

I can't believe this one's hung on so long. I'm reposting it... well... because some folks still don't seem able to get this, even though it's basic math. 

Originally posted January 3, 2013...

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The professional left’s latest chew toy seems to be based on the concept of gerrymandering.  Basically, the argument goes, Republicans kept a majority in the House due to gerrymandering. It’s an interesting concept, to be sure. But what makes it interesting is that they are so SURE they’re right about this, despite the fact that it’s actually mathematically impossible.  This can actually be proved by making a basic challenge; please demonstrate the math that gives a political party with 31% of all voter registrations nationally a Congressional majority over a party with 43% of registrations, at least in the 29 states and the District of Columbia that include party registration with their voter registration process.  (21 states don’t) You can’t. Even if Independents broke 2-to-1 for Republicans, the parties would be dead even, at best. 

Though I could end the argument there, the math itself highlights other problems, especially one constant theme I’ve been highlighting on this blog for years.  Some liberals seem to want to believe that every problem is a conspiracy, and that it's someone else's fault, when the problem rests squarely on our shoulders.  The problem isn't a grand conspiracy, but a failure to play politics in a meaningful, intelligent way.