Two Castles of Power

I feel very lucky that back in July of 2006, Arianna and I chatted at the BlogHer conference in San Jose and she immediately invited me to blog. Since then, I've managed to piss off, rally, inspire, and bore readers far and wide.

This site does a great job of giving voice to thousands, from celebrities to politicians to Moms like myself. It has also made me very aware of the power that comes with a loud megaphone.

With that in mind, I've been sporadically handing over my account to let someone else get a chance to use the megaphone.

Aaron Brazell normally talks tech and business over at Technosailor.com as Chief Editor, but today it's his turn with the megaphone:

Two Castles of Power
By Aaron Brazell

Every so often, in this nation, politicians with a variety of labels take an oath of office swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. In this declaration of Constitutional sovereignty, an act is played out for the people of districts, states and the country. Yet in, subsequent years, the two primary castles of power gain even more fortitude and immunity while the people of their lands fight among themselves over who who should be King.

Power is an absolute thing that, when given, drives the benefactor to more power. The United States today suffers from a two-party system which derives its strengths from each other. While Democrats and Republicans feign tortured political attacks and posturing, the system of governance that they have established for themselves gains more notoriety and further separates the peasants rallying behind their leaders.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees, in every object, only the traits which favor that theory." In truth, this enforces a theory that the restlessness of the natives obscures their ability to revolt against this governance.

People often ask me how I'm politically aligned, and I happily turn that question down. The simple reason for that is that I simply don't believe in the concept of a two party system in this country of over 300 million unique individuals. Every four years, the pundits start calculation winning percentages and dividing the country up into red states and blue states -- and the maps are compelling! However, the percentages are always tight decided largely along party lines.

The parties exist only for themselves and their own power. They do not exist for the people nor are they representative of the people.

I suspect that many people who pull the ballot bar for John McCain this summer, will be doing so because they've been told to pick a side and stick to it. Voters notching their chads to the Democratic nominee will be doing so because they've been told that Republicans are war mongers and will kill puppies.

However, America is not a red and blue country. It is a country divided by a variety of principles and beliefs from a variety of cultures, faiths and persuasions. Most Americans, if asked to put aside party differences, are looking for a leader that can pull the country together. All, but the most activist among us, probably could list the top ten qualities they want in a president and largely match up on that list.

In November, I too will file a ballot. Who I vote for is far from determined. What I do know is that the political party has no bearing on where my political alignment lies. Americans should not vote for a candidate based on party, or gender, or race. Americans should vote for a candidate based on their deeply held principles and desire to see the country move forward.

Normally, Aaron and Erin would be sparring over at twitter under the user names 'Technosailor' and 'QueenofSpain'

Comments

[smallddemocrat]

I support everything Aaron Brazell has written in this article. There is no one party that represents my views even 85% of the time. Yet, I'm drawn to vote because I believe I earned the right by enlisting 44 years ago to support this country's views and objectives in the world. You do these things when your young and believe that your country will always do the right and honorable thing. Forty odd years spent examining the causes of my war has led me to understand many of the machinations that play out behind the scenes and I can't say they, the government, follow the right and honorable path most of the time, and when they do, it seems that if it has to do with genocide or righting a serious wrong the foot dragging begins and little happens in a timely fashion. Bosnia and Darfur come to mind. Regime change on the other hand with attendant wealth to be made and energy resources to be had , is a different story.

[OtayPanky]

Well said.

[bobbym]

So true. So many politicians put party above the people to the detriment of us all.

[GeekMommy]

America has had many political parties since her inception.­.. and more than one of our Presidents has been aligned with parties that no longer exist.

It is sad, that in this day and age of instant information and open forums we have allowed the "2 party system" to solidify itself into something resembling concrete status.

But until such time as the media stop ignoring viable "3rd party" candidates and acknowledge their own role in the disenfranchisement of the vast 'moderate' non-aligned voters, well, it will likely remain a pipe dream.

Great post Aaron - now if only there were some other option open to us all other than candidates 'approved' and vetted by the current dominant parties.

[Karoli]

(continued)
The two-party system exploits the issues that drive us apart. My (formerly) Republican husband supports the Democratic party's commitment to green initiatives. He also supported the war, and still believes there was justification for it. He also saw the Republicans as most closely aligned to him in terms of core issues -- faith, family, country.

I speak in the past tense, because he has also come to believe that faith and family issues were hijacked to advance economic prosperity and corruption in this current administration. He clung -- yes CLUNG -- to his core belief that he had made the right "party line" decision in 2004, but he no longer believes that to be true.

What we both understand is this: If we don't start really dealing with the core issues, the ones that unite us, and come to a national consensus on how best to heal what has been so badly damaged, this country will remain "formerly great", a skeleton of its former self.

Voters this year really have to move past the constant drumbeat of punditry and start looking inside themselves for what they truly believe to be right, good, and honorable. They have to look at solutions, not ways to inflict more damage.

It's time to be honest.

[Karoli]

Of course, the problem is that too many people are staking their votes on the opinions of the spinners on TV. They can choose their poison. Will it be Wolf Blitzer (Hillary), Fox News (McCain), or MSNBC (bipolar)?

The dumbing down of American voters has reduced critical decisions about the future of this country to sound bites and yes, wedge issues. Of course we have more in common than we do different. I doubt that most Republicans think that killing and/or starving Iraqi children is right. Yet they'll vote the party line because the spinners will have convinced them that no, no, we can't possibly have that angry black guy hiding behind the 'calm, poised black guy mask' near the button, and anyway, those damn tax-and-spend liberals will drive us all into debt.

They will ignore the fact that their own party leaders drove us into debt and into war, gave us $4/gallon gas prices and more home foreclosures at any time since the Great Depression.

They will ignore the fact that the US Constitution, which they love (and which Democrats love, too) has been subverted in a backhanded effort for money and power, because the spinners forget to mention those things.

If we're not careful, we'll abrogate the leadership of this country to outside forces, while all the time being cheered on by the likes of Lanny Davis and Bill O'Reilly.

(more in reply)

[Adriennevh]

Bravo Aaron.

[jennydecki]

I got so excited reading this and thinking about an America that is not a two party political system I had to get up and take a cold shower. Ok, not really, I just got a glass of ice water...

Well stated. Really.

I hate to say it, but I'm not really liking anyone at this point. Unfortunately I (like many, I think) fear a world where we "throw away" our vote by choosing option C. Our fear keeps us falling on party lines that only exist in our collective consciousness.

So we herd into our queue, red or blue, sighing the whole time and wishing for something.­..not necessarily different.­..but more.

More options in the system.