Is there an elected politician that you agree with 100% of the time?
Preferably at the national level.. Say a senator, a congressman, a president. Maybe even a governor?
I haven't found one yet. I like Grayson, but I know he's a demagogue. I like Merkley, but he's been wrong a time or two. I like Obama, but he's been very wrong on some important things. Kucinich has his alien thing and much as I love the concept, I think his department of peace idea is lacking recognition of some basic drive to conflict in human beings. Warren is newish, but I am certain I will find flaws once I go looking. Boxer opposed filibuster reform. Even Good ol Bernie isnt perfect, though Im hard pressed to come up with a good example at the present instant.
I suppose you can see from my list where my overall preferences in a politician lie. But not one of them is 100% in my book. I'd be shocked to find one that was, and It would probably cause me to reexamine myself. If nothing else, they probably like mushrooms, and those are absolutely disgusting.
I started this post because it bothers me that we would allow ourselves to be separated by the mere mention of Rand Paul. My intended point was that just as there are no 100% agrees' there are no 100% disagrees either. I had a clever point about how Rand Paul, despite being a horrible human being, probably agrees with my "no whacking schoolchildren in the face with croquet mallets on tuesdays" policy.
But on writing and rewriting, with added reflection, It seems to me there is a more important concept. I think the idea that politics should be local, and that each rep should likely have a unique view, based on the needs, desires, and beliefs of his individual constituent base has largely been lost. Instead conforming to a national party ideal has become more important in many, maybe most races. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that this is especially prevalent on the other side of the isle.
So, really, what it comes down to, is our party system sucks. Instead of ever shifting coalitions, different groups voting different ways to represent the needs of varied constituent groups, we have a system where party loyalty overwhelms the wants or needs of the people.
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