There is political language used to divide us. There is political language used to unite us.
Our founding fathers utilized the language of unity.
"E Pluribus Unum," the motto emblazoned on the Great Seal of the United States of America, means "out of many, one." "We the people" in the preamble to the Constitution intones unity of purpose. Indeed, the very name of our nation, the "United States of America" is about unity.
Our first president and exemplary patriot, George Washington, talked of this in his extraordinary farewell address.
"The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize."
Washington continued with a warning about divisive language and an imperative to stay united.
"But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness … watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts."
Fast forward to the politics of today where Washington’s warning is ignored. Internally, politicians and moneyed interests of all persuasions intentionally utilize divisive language and tactics to grab power. Externally, foreign enemies amplify this discord on the Internet and social media to further divide us.
It is disheartening to see many otherwise able politicians so caught up in the language of division that they reject any and all constructive attempts to build the consensus needed to address critical issues.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves appears to be one of those.
Gov. Phil Bryant's director of Medicaid, Drew Snyder, told House Appropriations Committee members hospitals have serious problems with the growing number of uninsured patients and suggested "it's a fair concern to think about what's out there to lower those numbers."
Gubernatorial candidate Reeves responded by saying three times, "I'm opposed to Obamacare expansion in Mississippi." He said nothing about addressing the problem, just used the divisive Obamacare" word to stigmatize the issue.
Conservative first-term lawmaker Robert Foster, a Republican from Hernando who is also running for governor, took a more constructive approach: "I do not personally support traditional expansion of Medicaid like they've done in some other states," he told the Clarion-Ledger. "But what I do support, and what we do have to take into serious consideration, is looking at waivers and an innovative way of bringing health care that is affordable to the working class Mississippians that are left out right now."
Snyder and Foster have opened the door for constructive conservatism to address real problems.
Crawford is a syndicate columnist from Meridian.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Bill Crawford: Snyder & Foster Open Door to Constructive Conservatism
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Tater Tot is a very confused individual. He is at best an idiot that only wants personal power. When he announced for Governor he made sure to tell us what we would be protected from “Hollywood morals” rather that outline a plan to address the rampant crime in the City. Mississippi cannot afford four more years of conservatives. Listed to people like C.Brown and D, Baria. Forget the language of the conservative that is only interested in the hot button issue of abortion or the power of the Federal government. Hell fire and brimstone will not educate young minds nor restore the loss of family nor stop children from having children. We need help here in this state to actually educate folks in life skills,teach them to control weight,balance a checkbook,hold down a job, show up on time, read a newspaper, care about their employer’s customers and yes, even how to dress for work. Come on Tater Tot show me what you are made of. Come on Tater Tot tell me why you fought CID development and why rural internet was not considered 8 years ago or the gas tax addressed.Come on Tot tell us what you are made of.Come on TOT here is your forum. Tell us TOT ...Tell us.
12:00 - Calm down, son. You do realize none of the issues you mention are controlled from the governor's office, don't you? Did you think he was running for mayor of Jackson or school board member?
But, one minor correction, if you will. YES, Hell Fire and Brimstone will indeed go a long way in restoring the 'loss of family' and if that should ever occur, within three or four generations, little boys might learn to keep their little peckers in their low-ride britches.
This establishment GOP voter is sick of the establishment and will be voting for Foster. I was not for Trump in 16, but voted for him over Clinton. I am now Trump's biggest fan. This new brand of conservatism is winning me over. Results. Foster will bring results.
Do you always drop psilocybin on Sundays @2:59?
Tater has tied his pony to Trump, I wish him luck with that, even in the Sip. I really don't think they are that dumb.
So we have progressive Republicans in favor of ObamaCare?
Mike Pence did it and was successful . . . h m m m m
You all should stop arguing over political personalities and partisan nonsense and look at the bigger picture.
Putin and China have succeeded in their strategies to divide and weaken us and our allies not just by propaganda but by ensuring we would be embroiled in wars that drained our resources. Putin learned from Afghanistan.
Look at the economic situations in the remaining NATO countries. Look at the debt and deficit numbers.
Russia and China look a thousand years when planning strategy, we can't look at a thousand days.
But, y'all are loyal to party and politicians even when they are wrong. You won't admit they can make errors in judgment. And, you don't bother to inform yourself . Instead you find biased material to reinforce your faith in a person and party.
It is now too late and if you'd ever bothered to learn why societies fail or what causes war and conflict, instead of reading about the glory of past victories in battles and war, you'd know you are the reason people lose their liberty and freedom.
It's given away in dribs and drabs to the would be dictators. It's in the sentences of bills you never heard about at all. It's in thousands of rule changes.
That you chose " sides" rather than determined which side's policy was better, killed our democratic republic. You gambled on a human and lost faith in the system and ideals. You didn't try to improve the institutions, you try to find a savior to fix it for you.
Whatever, 9:15. I'm pretty sure the gay Muslims from Mexico that illegally pick my strawberries are destroying this country. Clearly, they control our destiny and not the multi billionaires, foreign and domestic, that fund congressional campaigns and own all parts of our media - left, right and center.
Two things:
@ 11:32am - gay Muslims from Mexico that illegally pick my strawberries - now that was funny! LOL!!!
@ 12:00pm - I am picking up what you are laying down hombre.
This thread was rather refreshing, there may be some hope for this state after all. The conservative values talking points bullsh*t has kept this state in 50th.
There's nothing wrong with "conservative" values when a state is thriving and doing well. "Conservative" fiscal policy works when the coffers are over-flowing and the states debt ceiling is at nill. Mississippi is not at that point, like Massachusetts and Colorado, where both the state economy is doing well and their debts are at a minimum.
Mississippi has a boatload of sh*t to fix, has to get its workforce up to par to compete against the contiguous neighboring states, needs to show its evolved from its racist past to drive in some out of state revenues to offset its tax cuts. Tons of opporuntity for growth and improvement, but not with Tate Reeves selling boogey man stories of Hollywood elites telling Mississippi how to run this state.
Sela Ward's husband, Howard Sherman thought he could come in - get a couple of established politicians from the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus to endorse him, because Mississippi's left was not too bright and would vote for him and Mississippi Democrats shut that sh*t down and voted for David Baria.
I don't trust Robert Foster as far as I could throw him, but at least he's focused on real sh*t that is affecting this state and not just repeating some empty Trump conservative talking points like Tate Reeves.
Robert Foster is backed by a bunch of idiots from Oxford who want "power". Just a spoiled kid who's bored with his life and family, and has been told he'd make a good candidate. Just another social media millennial idiot that thinks he's entitled to something without having to earn it.....and he's glad to be used if it makes him "popular".
Jim Hood will be the next Governor. Book it.
@ January 23, 2019 at 7:29 AM
Long as it's not Triple Cheese Tater Thot Maximus I am good with that.
Post a Comment