A bit of perspective

This has been a very eventful couple of weeks. The health care debate seems to be like grandma on the respirator, but the discussion has quickly moved in recent days from health care to the level of discourse in our country. There have been several good pieces here that you should take a look at (Eljefe had a great piece this morning on right wing hate speech, Astrogirlkel had another on Ann Coulter, and Jefe added another on the fruits of hate speech). I come not to steal their thunder, but hopefully to add to it.

First, I wanted to utilize my political science degree for a second to add some perspective to the conversation. It has been said often that the party in power usually governs from the center. This makes perfect sense as they want to maintain their control. There have been notable exceptions to this rule in recent decades, but U.S. History will bear this fact out. However, what hasn't been said, but makes perfect sense, is that the party out of power often has to fight off the urge to fight back from the extremes of its party.

We can deny this, but it would be fruitless and hypocritical. The Democrats did this throughout the Bush years with the likes of Dennis Kucinich. He is the guy that always advocates that the war should end yesterday. Most of us agree in our hearts and yet realize that this really isn't feasible. Yet, when the Republicans controlled the White House and Congress, this is all that you heard. Funny how the tune changes when the shoe is on the other foot.

So, some of the histrionics are to be expected. It's easy to appeal to the extremes when you have no responsibility whatsoever. We also must remember that decorum is often elusive to the party out of power. I reference you to the Bush jokes done by SNL, Jon Stewart, and all of the other liberal pundits. If you can honestly stand up and say you never told a joke at his expense then feel free to shoot me a line. As for me, I will own up to my culpability. So, while many of the jokes scurt the line of decency (and jump headlong over) we must remember that we did the same (more or less).

Before we charge full bore into a discussion about the absence of civility, we must examine our own conscience first. Once we have done that, we can have a full and frank discussion about the state of civility in our public discourse. In Jefe's last piece, he examined the conservative reponse to the cries that their followers are enthralled in a campaign of hate speech. Their response is that everyone does it. It seems to me that this is the same reponse I get from second graders when one of them is caught doing something wrong. I suppose if the "everyone is doing it" defense worked then then it surely works now.

The problem with this line of argument is that while there are certifiable whackos on both sides of the fence, the whackos on the left are isolated. Notice the list that conservatives come up with for liberal whackos. Usually, it involves some kind of seven degrees of Kevin Bacon to make a connection. Whacko A was once seen walking on campus next to a liberal rally as he walked to his dorm. Whacko B is a anarchists and we all know that anarchists are liberals right? Wait a minute, I thought liberals loved government. Wait, I'm confused.

Even if I play along and agree, there are two facts that cannot be ignored. First, those whackos were never a part of any official liberal movement. At least, they weren't part of any movement at the time of their mental demise. Secondly, no established liberal in power or talking head advocated violence. I will stand by that one. There have been some that haven't shown the proper respect for our political institutions. I'm not going to defend anyone that openly questions an office holders' authority or the authority of anyone in the military. Still, there is a difference between a lack of respect for those in office and those that openly advocate violence towards those in office.

To my knowledge, no elected Republican has openly advocated for violence. I would venture to say that no one is that stupid, but I have been proven wrong before. However, their rhetoric is coming closer and closer to crossing that line. The whackos that would participate in such are not officially a part of the Republican establishment, but they are getting closer and closer. You don't have to go too many degrees to get to the Kevin Bacon. As we say in the counseling world, you can escalate a situation or deescalate a situation. Most of us have the same goal (deescalate) but sometimes escalate on accident. Today's Republican seems to escalate on purpose.

I suppose a part of this comes down to some basic liberal and conservative DNA. Most liberals are now swayed by these kinds of ad hominem attacks. Some I are I suppose, but no one comes running to liberal radio or MSNBC to hear Ed Schultz call Pat Buchanon an Irish slur. Of course, maybe I should start tivoing MSNBC. Many liberals seem more educated that many of the conservatives that the Republican party are targeting. It hurts me to say that because it feels like an unfair generalization. Still, if it's true then it's not unfair. Hate seems to be a growing part of being a conservative. Emperor Palpatin is making his move and he's using our hate to get it done.

Those who read me religiously know I have been prone to move in that direction sometimes. I suppose we all are. All that has to be done is to get us riled up and all of the sudden we are questioning someone's right to exist. We question their value to society. Hatred is a dangerous thing. I should know, I've been there. At the end of the day, words can be taken back. Violence cannot. I hope some conservatives wake up and realize this before it is too late.