By Carl Sheeler
Those among us who have children have learned that the best way to end a temper tantrum is to divert attention away from the item/ issue that is the subject of the emotional tirade. It’s a clever trick, and it works.
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Unfortunately, it works with adults, too, especially when it comes to elections for political office, with diversion creating the desired effect that voters either sit out the election or do not do their civic duty to investigate the candidates fully.
I’d argue that sitting out an election should be tantamount to giving up a person’s right to criticize those in office, since the voter has opted out of the game (which is how elections are treated more and more these days). You are either part of the problem or part of the solution, and participation should be the dividing line.
In Rhode Island, as well as all across the nation, we are usually given a choice of Democratic blue or GOP red. It is important to look at the choice as one of our most important.
Why? Because of the huge responsibility our elected officials have in determining how our tax dollars are collected and allocated. It is part of the social contract that binds conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats, although the labels oftentimes get mixed up.
A strong argument can be made that the present political parties are not connected to the parties of yesteryear. How true, for example, when Democrats become hawks beholden to big corporate interests or Republicans spend our taxes and borrow money from our kids faster than they can collect it.
At the same time, those elected who appear to be most beholden to the public may be labeled as moderates, often shoved to the fringe of their party. Eventually, as the pendulum swings back and forth, right to left, left to right, center becomes an unclear position.
This brings me to several conclusions.
If you’re relying on polls, television ads or pundits in the paper instead of taking 15 to 30 minutes to choose who is going to spend your tax dollars, then it’s not an informed decision. “I don’t have the time to research the candidates” is not a valid excuse. Your daily life and thousands of your tax dollars are impacted by this choice.
The Democratic Party was in control of the House for 42 years (1952 to 1994) under both Republican and Democratic presidents. While much was achieved, there was also much left undone because some of those elected ranged from superb to less than mediocre. When we elect mediocrity because we recognize a name and know little about their voting and legislative history, we are to blame. In fact, our actions have allowed the Social Security trust fund to be gutted and given corporations leave to underfund pensions. If our interests were coming first, we likely would have affordable health care, high-quality education and economic security for our seniors.
Wealthy and big corporate interests have learned this game well. They now win, whether a Republican or Democrat is elected. It’s no surprise that the economic interests of those in their teens and 20s and the poor are overshadowed by our seniors, the affluent and business interests. They vote or influence the vote. We could level the playing field with campaign finance reform, so the middle class, small business owners and veterans are fairly represented.
It’s time for a progressive agenda with independent-minded candidates to be considered within this framework. Until there’s a better system out there, choose the candidate whom you trust over the bluster, and be prepared to hold them accountable. The costs of ignorance and indifference are eroding the very thing we hold dear – a quality of life for our families and neighbors.
Carl Sheeler is a former Marine officer and business owner and was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the U.S.
Senate this year.
