Archive: Opinions

EditorialAt a time when the U.S. Congress suffers an all time low approval rating -- 14% in July according to the Gallop organization -- it is almost shocking when you see a congressman doing something productive.  I think most people are sick of our partisan do-nothing Congress.  I know I am.  I yearn for a congressional leader who will plow through the party lines and actually do something productive for America.

As you go further down in the pyramid of politics you see less and less party politics, though it certainly colors local councils.  In our own town a lot of voters tend to vote along party lines more or less, but the actual work of the town isn't particularly Republican or Democrat.  This year the alignment of the council took a new turn with the election of a Democratic town supervisor.  But you would almost have to call him a Republican in terms of his policies -- spend as little as possible, make government more friendly to business.

I found myself impressed Monday when I went to a local high-tech company to cover a visit by our district's U.S. Congressman Michael Arcuri.  It was a visit devoid of politics, a fact finding mission to help Arcuri formulate practical legislation that will help business in our region.  He showed a genuine interest and almost childlike delight in the high tech plant and its unarguably amazing products.  He asked pointed questions about the world market, about how the company creates jobs for New Yorkers, ways government can help to improve the local economy, and what government should be thinking about as it deals with its trade partners around the world.

To me Arcuri is a funny guy -- Doctor Representative and Mister Politics in a Jekyll and Hyde kind of way.  He is clearly earnest about substantive issues, and here he was on Monday gathering actual information from a primary source to help formulate his opinions and legislation that will directly impact people who live here.  But get him going on party topics and he will rattle his way through the Democratic Party talking points faster than you can say 'Nancy Pelosi.'

I like the Jekyll side.  I have a fondness for people who define problems and try to come up with practical, workable solutions.  I don't get the Mr. Hyde side.  How can someone that intelligent and potentially effective not see how much more effective bipartisanship can be in making good things happen on issues that matter to people?  I suppose he thinks he has to do it to get elected.  Maybe one does have to do it to get elected.

Average Republicans and Democrats get caught up in red rover party oneupsmanship and name calling, too.  Most Democrats loved John McCain every time he crossed party lines to make something happen that he thought was more important than just being a Republican.  Now that he's a Republican running for President they hate him.  It's funny how fast they have forgotten how much they like him!  And look how Republicans reviled Joe Lieberman when he was the Democrats' Vice Presidential Candidate.  They love him now because he's standing up for McCain.  And Democrats are downright vindictive, threatening to strip Lieberman of committee chairmanship.

These guys are called traitors, but traitors to what?  Certainly not to their country.  Certainly not.

I think they have got it right.  Being an American is more important than being a Republican or a Democrat.  The whole reason we have Republicans and Democrats is so we can be Americans in a way that gives us all a voice in our government.  Stifling that voice by intractably digging in and insisting on the party line at the expense of helping Americans is an absurd, twisted crime against all of us.  Demonizing those who don't agree with us is supposed to be singularly un-American.

On a personal level I don't like to talk about politics with people I know disagree with me, because I am tired of the holier than thou attitude they take.  I even feel a little edgy talking to people I know agree with me, because they sometimes assume I am as holy as they are.  When people don't know how I feel they assume I agree with them, and often say things that I find incredibly offensive.

I like reasonable conversations about issues and beliefs, but those are an endangered species in our highly politicized world.  People see the shouting matches between ideological opponents on CNN and Fox and think that's the way to talk about issues.  Just because it's on TV doesn't mean it isn't bad manners.  And on the practical side, if you can't hear what your opponent is saying how will you ever agree enough to get something done?  Talking about politics isn't really fun.

And that voting along party lines thing -- isn't that just an excuse for not paying attention to what candidates really believe?  In many ways I think we average votes have created the Mr. Hyde in politics.

But Arcuri's visit made me wonder if the perception of a do-nothing Congress is greater than the reality.  Arcuri is not a blusterer.  I have seen him listen to constituents on a number of occasions.  Really listen to them to find out what matters to them.  And I believe he takes that into serious consideration as he decides what legislation to support.  I also see it in the things he votes for -- mostly things that matter, mixed with some party line items.  More Jekyll than Hyde.  That's good, right?

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