By Mitch Holt, Copy Editor
Don’t Believe the Hype
With the Democrats recently gaining a majority in Congress and the introduction of a female speaker of the house to boot, many Texans I’ve encountered aren’t too happy about the turn of events brought about by the midterm elections.
But I say why not?
I see the party change as much more than a change of Congressional power. The mere idea that one group can hold the majority one session and the minority the next displays democracy at work.
Democracy, according to www.dictionary.com, advocates government for the people, a society in which supreme power is vested in the people who choose to vote.
Too often we focus on what happens within the walls of the White House, Capitol, House of Representatives and Senate that we neglect the things we can be doing to make the U.S. a better country (and I don’t mean a more powerful country).
While issues such as poverty, racism and social injustice exist and many of these problems can be attributed to governmental decisions, the power does in fact belong to the people, problems or not.
Probably more than any other point in the history of the U.S., party division has taken a more prominent role in this country’s politics in the past 10 years for many reasons.
The World Trade Center bombings, White House scandals, alleged wartime conspiracy and simple unrest with the security of the U.S., this country is divided on many different levels.
Aside from the racial, gender and class divisions, party divisions serve as a more glorified version of these controversial divisions.
Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens and Libertarians are not going to agree on many things-that’s just the way it is. But within these disagreements, respect must take a front burner. Many politicians have lost sight of what this country was founded upon and what took place in order to make the U.S. a free country. The principles set within our Constitution have become mere words.
No, the Democrats winning the majority does not mark the end of this country because this is what democracy is all about-a balance of power. Both parties have made monumental mistakes in the past, and the U.S. always bounces back. But we must remember that the U.S. is just a country, a country in which everyone’s voice is supposed to be heard, more or less.
Focus on what matters-taking care of the poor and looking out for the welfare of others. Politics is just a complication meant to add some organization to the way these issues are handled. But the real power rests in your hands.
Whether Democrats have Congress or Republicans have Congress, your job is to look out for others and not let party divisions affect how you treat other people.
