Our new president will be inaugurated on January 20, 2017. Leading and governing, especially after this election cycle, will be extremely challenging. Neither candidate has the trust of even a majority of the electorate; neither will have a mandate.
We hear over and over that this is a “change” election. How each of us defines “change” probably covers a wide spectrum of definitions. Change can be for good or for ill. For me, the change I long for is compromise.
Our new president needs to lead, to patch together the divisions deepened over the last year, to heal the country, and to set a course for the country’s future. Members of Congress have to be willing to work with the president; to create legislation that is good for the country and the country’s future. They and the president have to face the reality that getting just 60-80% of what they want is a win. We citizens have to be satisfied with laws that may not be perfect in our opinion, but serve the greatest number of people. Putting together legislation is like making a stew, not all ingredients are going to please everyone, but the final product is edible and nourishing.
Healing the country will be more difficult with modern media. The new media which has grown extensively over the past 20 years has often driven wedges between groups and ideas. Tweets are not news; they are opinion. Talk radio and more recently “news related” websites and blogs have gained a loyal following, a following that only gets their news from one source, a source that beats the drum for a particular, narrow world view. Unfortunately, many of these media outlets make up their own facts and drive distrust of reputable news outlets. They don’t look at all sides of an issue. They contribute to division and a hardening of beliefs, tending to discourage any kind of compromise.
It is up each of us to do our homework and check into the veracity of the information being presented. Certain American institutions make our country work, not perfectly, but are necessary for order and our way of life.
Gallup conducted a poll in June of 2016 to rank our confidence in American institutions. The following institutions are ranked from the institution with the greatest confidence to the least: military, small business, police, organized religion, medical system, Presidency, U.S. Supreme Court, public schools, banks, organized labor, Criminal Justice System, television news, newspapers, big business, and on the very bottom, Congress.
This ranking demonstrates how difficult it will be to lead and to bring members of a divided Congress together to solve the serious problems we face. Congress has failed to deal with immigration, the ballooning debt/budget, entitlement reform, tax reform/closing loopholes, fixing the healthcare law, job creation/retraining, and on and on. If legislation aimed toward rebuilding America’s deteriorating infrastructure was passed and signed into law, it would provide jobs and boost the economy.
Congress is more polarized than ever, partly do to gerrymandering and partly due to the failure of voters to participate in primary elections. Low turnout in primaries allows more extreme candidates to move on to the general election. Bipartisan redistricting could lead to the election of more moderate candidates, who could help move legislation that is in the best interest of America’s future.
Governing requires a different skill set than campaigning. Experience is definitely a plus, even necessary. A smooth transition from the Obama administration to the new administration is a must. Anything less weakens national security and the economy. The new president must be prepared to govern from day one.
My greatest fear is that the country will be so splintered politically after the election that continued dysfunction in government is inevitable. Our country is stronger when we are united. No one has all the answers. Listening to a variety of viewpoints is healthy. It is better to get a percentage of what one wants, than nothing at all. The status quo, which has been governmental dysfunction, causes stagnation and leads to disappointment.
The notion floated by one candidate that the elections will be “rigged” is dangerous and could lead to even more distrust. It is important that we trust that our president is legitimate. We must trust reputable news outlets. The legitimate media is a necessary element to a functioning democracy. Legitimate media outlets cover both sides and provide transparency. It is important to get news from more than one source.
Most of us will be satisfied with all levels of government when they actually work and things get done, even if we don’t agree with everything.