| The presidential and general elections took place | | | | should it be, else someone would get the grand |
| over a year ago. The Democrats got the White | | | | idea that maybe with a bit more charisma, a bit |
| House. They have sizable majorities in the Senate | | | | more lying, a bit more deception, maybe, just |
| and the House. Yet, we have never seen so | | | | maybe you could blindside everyone long enough |
| much gridlock in Washington. Then there are the | | | | to slip something that has nothing to do with |
| fringe groups, on both sides, wanting their pound | | | | common interests past all of us. So I never want |
| of flesh at every turn, on every piece of | | | | to live in a society where it is easy to make |
| legislation. If they do not get what they think is | | | | concrete changes, even if those changes |
| the only way to go, then no game. What? | | | | completely reflect my own values. |
| Well, let me say this for myself. I have strong | | | | What I want are policies that create a trend |
| views on the role of government, tax policy, civil | | | | towards the views that I hold but modulated by |
| rights, trade policy and a host of other stuff. But I | | | | views that are different from mine. And as we |
| would never want an administration to try to | | | | learn what works and what does not, we correct |
| implement policies all at once that would embody | | | | course or push ahead. And even if it is as obvious |
| the depth and extent of these views. Never. And | | | | as daylight that we are on the right track with |
| anyone out there who does, at the very least, | | | | any policy, it is not always a good idea to ram |
| need to rethink what the hell they are asking of a | | | | your rightness down anyone's throat. |
| society. | | | | That is how democracy was meant to work. Any |
| Your very strong views about anything are your | | | | other way and it becomes something else - such |
| right to have. But governance is not about | | | | as useless gridlock and a means to feed our |
| everyone else giving in to your whims, fancies, | | | | delusions at the expense of others. But this is not |
| beliefs or passions. Governance is, among other | | | | enough for the "fringies". They want what they |
| things, about striking a healthy balance between | | | | want and in the end they or all of us will end up |
| competing positions. And that is not easy. Neither | | | | getting nothing. |