On Political Duality in Modern America

           Before I write the meat of this essay, let me emphasize that I am just one imperfect citizen, not entirely inexperienced in political affairs, but being weathered and reduced by my passage through a political inferno I had a part in causing- I have entered into what is largely a learning phase.  And yet may not a common citizen learn of the world by organizing his thoughts in written form?

           Those criticisms of myself that are just I tend to regard almost as a favor, because in truth I have at times a tendency toward grandiosity...  and I do not wish to be 'puffed,' to use the biblical term, but would rather be more honestly and authentically depressed.

             However, there has been a consistent criticism of my political activity that I am indecisive, or that my decisions and statements switch between 'the right' and 'the left:'  these being descriptive political terms that have meaning, but do not fully capture the political thought of a modern democracy.

             An insightful politlcal position is often more a hybrid of right and left, and even then may not cover all the complexities the world presents.  For example, I'm an independent liberal of a pacific tendency...   I don't own a gun, and tend to think that a civilian area full of guns takes on a negative aspect...  

           However, my experience in politics informs me that the common citizens need every recourse we can have to the tyrannical tendencies that can accompany power and authority.  I believe that our founders got it right: that citizens have a right and are often well advised to arm themselves.  I just feel that these weapons need not be constantly paraded, with or without uniforms, but should be at hand for home or business defense... or for genuine time of wider trouble.

            My point is that it can be desirable to have mixed sympathies: to see the points of mothers' groups who react to all the mass shootings, and of their allies who want college campuses free of fire-arms, but ultimately also desirable to be respectful of America's founding vision of an armed citizenry.  

             When we say that we believe in democracy, this is not an empty phrase: writers and public intellectuals serve an estimable role, but ultimately the people must be able to defend their liberty.   Like many poltical questions, it's a complex issue and an intelligent response requires nuance and duality...  just as decisions on such affairs usually require compromise.

              These compromises often involve bending to the political reality of a given time.  I gave fervently of my time and money to both the Sanders and Clinton campaigns largely because I think universal health care is a noble goal...  and that America is changing and advancing in such a way that it will ultimately decide to embrace it.  But, the election being over...  I saw that the best course for me to advance the common good was to meet the newly elected government...  and seek to influence them, starting from where they were.

                 One must respect the elder statesmen: conservative and liberal...  the zeitgeist of the political year, and the necessity for compromise.  I may not always agree with leaders like Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, but I have a deep respect for them.  

                In the case of the former, I'm aware that his work on health care is conservative but also deeply principled...   He was not willing to give in to conservative fire-brands, and try to simply repeal the A.C.A. without replacement, and he took a stand on this.  A non-replaced repeal was not to have happened. 

              So of course I respect peaceful protesters and liberals like Nancy Pelosi and Ron Wyden who have highly ethical positions on health care, but I would be remiss if I didn't also respect McConnell's principled responsibility.

                 For those looking for simple answers to complex problems, this can look like indecision or even treachery, but it's not.  It's seeking a nuanced understanding, and also embracing new ideas that are not yet neatly pigeon-holed by the central parties.

               And it's seeking a viable path forward through the political landscape that the last election has given us.  It is ultimately necessary to have some respect for the compromising and sausage grinding that is the political process of our great American democracy