The Lauded Independents

On his radio program today, Rush Limbaugh characteristically questioned conventional wisdom. This particular monologue, questioning whether oft- praised virtue and intelligence of political independents and moderates was indeed a reality, brought a question to my mind not articulated by Mr. Limbaugh. That question is this: why do these independents, responsible as we are told they are for the outcomes of national (and particularly presidential) elections, change their minds so predictably and routinely?

We are reminded by the political pundits that shifts of power from one party to another like the 2010 elections, however nearly unprecedented, occur almost every election cycle. They are normal. A shift in some 60 seats is normal? The wise mass of open-minded voters must have made a terrible error if they must correct it with such a change. But again, if what the pundits tell us is true – I do not believe it is – this body untainted by prejudice makes the same mistake every election cycle, and must fix it the next time around.

Is this simply their way of balancing our political system? Is this their moderating power? It seems to me instead to be the behavior of a group of people with short memories and discontentment with the circumstances of the country, our simply with their own circumstances. They may express the sentiment of George Orwell: “It is not possible for any thinking person to live in such a society as our own without wanting to change it.” But change it to what? It is impossible for any thinking person not to ask that question. As Henry David Thoreau said, “Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.” Complaining of futility is cathartic, perhaps, but it accomplishes nothing. Realizing difficult goals is one of America’s most noteworthy virtues. Or at least, it has been.

I believe that our educational system has failed to equip a large number of the population with the necessary thinking skills and understanding of our political system to determine a good goal for the form of our government. We need an active, informed populace to begin work from the ground up if we are ever going to restore our system. The “ground up” invokes the concept of federalism, an American principle completely lost on a substantial number of the American population. But that is a topic for another time…

For now, we would do well to remember what James Madison recognized: governments are the ultimate reflection of those governed. A glance at our current reflection does not make us look good.