I believe in debate.  I believe that discussions between passionate people with differing opinions can lead to better solutions to problems than tackling them from a single-minded point of view.  Modern political campaigns and American-Idolesque face-offs masquerading as debate have drifted far afield from the simple concept of candidates stumping for their vision of maintaining the best of the status quo and improving or reimagining our collective future.  Substance has all but disappeared from the equation, emphasized and re-emphasized by nattering media analysts to the extent of dumbing down the electoral process to grooming, posture and emotional buzz words that rarely have roots in anything resembling truth.

To me, the most troubling Republican stand, (while whining incessantly about Obama’s unwillingness or inability to work in a bi-partisan manor), is that the leadership mandated from Obama’s first day in office that their “number one priority” was to make him a one term president.  They have marched in unanimous lockstep against every legislative policy proposed by the administration with no regard for their own convictions.  The Health Care Reform Act, (I guess it’s cool for everybody to call it Obamacare now), as flawed as it may be, is full of bi-partisan ideas and more importantly, it makes great strides in moving closer to the kind of health care that all Americans deserve.  For Romney, (who brags about working across the aisle in Massachusetts to create the well-working health care model in that state), to hold to the preposterous statement that on day one of his presidency he “will repeal Obamacare”, shows how little he understands what real leadership is about.

There is no doubt that governance has grown untenable and inefficient.  But to suggest that the problem with America is that big government and social services are the demons threatening our future is an idea concocted by the profit-at-any-cost American oligarchs to rally the uninformed to pursue, in earnest, ideologies that are not in their own best interests.  We are a sinfully wasteful society with layer upon layer of unnecessary brokering of everything from military ordnance to energy to health care.  We have gasped in disbelief at 60 Minutes exposés about $500 military hammers, but there are numerous outrageous overcharges at every corporate turn, solely based on the thirst for bloated profit margins, while creative banking and tax preparation assure the minimum contribution to the public coffers.

It goes without saying, (I know…so why am I saying it?), that especially in an election year, the differences between candidates are the criteria by which we form our opinions.  But after the election, maybe we need a mandatory campaign hiatus so that some part of the term of our representatives can actually be spent on legislation.  And in that fantasy world, maybe we could begin to notice just how much common ground we share.