Our job is to help
As one nation among many, one wealthy nation with multiple resources, we are called to serve our fellow humans. A small group of extremists it making that nearly impossible.
Despite all the checks and balances in the Constitution, and in practices developed over decades, a handful of extremists in the House of Representatives has left that essential legislative body paralyzed.
Small numbers of unduly powerful people making decisions that harm the majority, simply to stay in power: this is the hallmark of oligarchies and authoritarian systems.
One party is playing this role now, but it could be either. We (abstractly) understand the importance of true competition in the economy; we seem unwilling to embrace it in politics. The Supreme Court has ruled that gerrymandering districts for partisan gain is not unconstitutional. Yet here is the result: “safe” partisan districts mean low-turnout primaries; low-turnout primaries often mean only the most extreme voters participate; they elect equally extreme candidates, who are not challenged in the general election.
This is why, in order to get votes for the speakership, one threat used against members of the House is to “primary” them if they refuse to support the candidate.
And here we are: extremists, just a few, can hamstring an entire national legislative body. Performative destruction, indeed.
As one nation among many, one wealthy nation with multiple resources, we are called to serve our fellow humans. The war in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and elsewhere; the climate emergency, poverty and famine, natural disasters. Our job is to show up and help whenever, however we can.
But the so-called leaders who are playing performative, destructive games are making that difficult, if not impossible.
This dangerous spiral did not start in 2016, but that administration enabled and ennobled it, and will end any semblance of checks and balances if it is returned to power in 2024.
Our vote is our voice, and every single election is our next most important opportunity to use it.
Take good care, and stay strong; the world needs you.