Rich Vial: Is there any way out of this mess?
We need and deserve political actors who are playing a different game--one where wins are determined by the well-being of every constituent, not partisan power.
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Rich Vial is a former Oregon State Legislator, former Deputy Secretary of State and founder of the law firm Vial-Fotheringham, LLC. He provided legal assistance to hundreds of Homeowner Associations throughout the West for four decades and has always had a passion for how communities organize and govern effectively.
Writing this essay just one week after the lamentable events occurring in our nation’s Capitol makes it impossible to begin without a reference to that incomprehensible day. That day began with yet another “rally” near the White House starring President Donald Trump, (Who pays for these by the way? Here’s to hoping one of my Oregon Way colleagues examines the Rally Industrial Complex), and ended with a vote of the Senate and the House to confirm the results of the Electoral College vote, which certified Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. In between those bookends sickened and indeed frightened many of us in ways that we had a hard time imagining, even after a year of incomparable loss and norm breaking.
It bears asking just what brought us to this point. The one-word answer is anger, but from whence?
Our public dialogue in America is currently controlled by two very powerful political “Parties.” Each is determined to use whatever means necessary to maintain power. That pursuit of power—above policy, above the will of the people—has divided the politically engaged members of our communities and all whom they influence, into tribes determined to eradicate the other and win at all costs.
The words of many of our elected officials reveal their prioritization of power and loyalty. Indeed, in the now infamous speech of the morning of Jan. 6, Trump specifically called for any congressperson who disagreed or opposed his radical call for declaring our election fraudulent to be primaried—in the other words, to face a grueling reelection campaign where the tribes determine who gets to run
Calls for moderation go virtually unnoticed. No tweets start “trending” by calling for listening more, talking less, and seeking more diverse opinions. The most popular Facebook posts incite anger, rather than encourage understanding. Party officials would rather inspire greater loyalty to their tribe than encourage behavior that helps us connect with others on “the other side.” Lamentation over continuing losses causes party leaders to reject cooperative efforts. Trump understands this very well, and knows that a cry to “be tough” and “fight” will be very effective.
Besides the fact that the Parties feel the need to fight to the death, the fact that it is “good TV” (and even better social media) acts as encouragement to the average person to choose a side. We are told constantly that it is our moral duty to stand with the “right side” whether that side is left or right. Politics couched in terms of morality make any sort of different behavior look immoral and, therefore, in need of condemnation. Some actions, like undermining our democracy, of course merit our opprobrium. But policy differences should not become matters of opposite expressions of absolutism.
As a former legislator, I can attest to the fact that folks have been conditioned to listen for your combative rhetoric and unequivocal certainty much more than your contemplative musings. Our Oregon Way colleague Bruce Abernethy has experienced the same. Until we systemically change the way we elect our leaders, and how they meet to govern, I see no way out of the mess that President George Washington identified as the tyranny of partisanship.
The pursuit of power is not confined to the Parties as organizations, but also, in many cases, their officials as well. That’s why I was not surprised when newly-elected Secretary of State Shemia Fagan referred to herself as the “Lieutenant Governor.”
Oregon doesn’t have a Lieutenant Governor.
I can only imagine that the reason for the reference is to get folks used to the idea that Secretary Fagan is the logical successor to our current governor. This is of course a primary objective of any party, and one of the expressed reasons why the Democratic Party vowed to “get the seat back” from the moment that Republican Dennis Richardson was elected. (look forward to a forthcoming post discussing this issue further).
I’ve pointed out a number of issues – social media, moralization of politics, and the prioritization of electoral success over competitive elections – all are made worse by the anger I originally cited. How we reduce anger in politics deserves our continued attention and energy. I am excited to learn from Oregon Way contributors and others about their recommendations.
From my own perspective, anger will only dissipate when the rules of the “game” change. Jan. 6 happened in part because the Republican “Party” allowed it to. “They” did so in an effort to maintain a power base and avoid drifting into a place of irrelevance, but when loyalty is more important that truth, the outcome is inevitable.
The Republican Party I got actively involved with in my 40’s no longer exists. I no longer have a political “home.” I know I am not the only one looking for a different way to get involved. But, as our current system only allows for two parties to have any meaningful input into our public life, I can only hope that we will wake up, reject partisanship, and reformat with a truly non-partisan system. It is possible.
We saw just how far our partisan actors are willing to go when everything is couched as a win or loss. We need and deserve political actors that are playing a different game in which wins are only determined by the well-being of every constituent.
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