Seeking middle ground

We dedicate this song to all Americans who feel that their elected officials don’t reflect their personal views: "Stuck in the Middle With You," by Stealers Wheel.

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Our nation’s political battles are becoming more contentious. Last week’s outburst by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., during President Obama’s speech on socialized health care last week is only the most recent and most visible volley in an increasingly bitter battle between two widely divergent political parties.

Democrats try to show a united front in hopes that they’ll remain in power. However, a power struggle is going on behind the scenes between staunch liberals and "blue dog," or more fiscally conservative, members.

Across the fence, former Vice President Dick Cheney and radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh earlier this year launched attacks on former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who complained that the Republican Party alienates legions of people who agree in principle with the party’s core values; many of them are people of color.

Limbaugh essentially said that people who aren’t hard-core right-wingers should simply leave the party.

Should they? Should they fight a tough battle to wrest control of the party from entrenched neocons, or should they look for, or form, another group that is fiscally conservative but socially liberal?

The problem is, most Americans seem to be caught in the middle of the two parties.

Many Americans — a majority, it seems — believe they are taxed so much that their standard of living is compromised. They question many of the programs, and the cost, of programs promoted by the Democratic Party. Many are horrified to think that their tax dollars are being used to fund things they consider morally wrong, such as abortion. They might not like union-friendly legislation that impedes workers’ ability to make independent agreements with employers.

While they might want fiscal restraint, however, many Americans have a real problem with institutionalized xenophobia, edicts that mandate the promotion of a specific religion to the detriment of others, or restrictions on media, behavior and expression the Republican Party espouses.

The obvious question, then, is, why do Americans, who ostensibly decide who gets elected and what party gains power, allow these political aberrations to run the country? Why don’t we have a strong political party that reflects the majority view? After all, other parties do exist; they just don’t have the strength of the two biggies.

You can pick your answer: Maybe the assumption is wrong, and people really are gathered at either ends of the spectrum. Maybe people prefer a two-party system that precludes the formation of coalitions that would lead to compromise legislation rather than the all-or-nothing battles we have today. Or maybe the incumbent parties have stacked the deck in their favor, and a vote for a minority party might as well be thrown away. People don’t think they have a choice.

Actually, they do. Several other political parties exist, although most of them are single-issue groups like the Green Party, America First Party and the U.S. Marijuana Party.

Some, however, do offer comprehensive philosophies that can be applied to all aspects of life and government.

The largest of these is the Libertarian Party. Traditionally most in line with our country’s Jeffersonian founders, it combines the small-government views that conservatives espouse, while defending the social freedoms that many modern political liberals tout.

Members of the Libertarian Party’s state and local organizations will be in Brownsville on Sunday to discuss their political philosophy, and to see if anyone who agrees with their positions might want to run for state or congressional office in upcoming elections.

They will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Denny’s restaurant at 6131 Paredes Line Rd. Anyone who wants to look beyond the limited options offered by our two major parties is welcome to stop by and listen to the Libertarians’ message.

They might or might not convince newcomers to support their political efforts. What’s important, however, is that people recognize that they are not limited to the two big parties. If enough people decide to vote their conscience, rather than for political expediency, we could well get members of our legislative bodies who better reflect the views of most Americans.

At the very least, active and informed voters would force the current majorities to respect the opinions of the people who put them in power in the first place.

 Carlos A. Rodriguez is opinion editor of The Brownsville Herald. His e-mail address is crodriguez@brownsvilleherald.com.