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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany

Suspicion of Government Threatens the United States

 

"Distrust of the state is an American founding principle. But this federation in which people expect strong leadership and a willingness to embrace pragmatic solutions cannot exist without trust."

 

By Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger

 

Translated By Stephanie Martin

 

January 4, 2011

 

Germany - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Original Article (German)

In fact, it's the ideal envisioned by the American Constitution: Political power is not concentrated but distributed - and is therefore limited. The distrust of political authority, of government and thus of the state, is a bedrock and enduring principle of the United States. This finds reflection in the separation and interdependence of powers. Rather than seeking the efficient exercise of power, power is circumscribed and restricted.

 

So if in the next two years, Democratic President Obama confronts a Congress in which at least one chamber, the House of Representatives, is dominated by Republicans, then it will be entirely in keeping with the liberal intentions of the 18th century Founding Fathers, who feared nothing as much as tyranny of the majority. And it also corresponds with the wishes of many voters, who feel that "divided government" is always better than a situation in which both the president and Congress come from the same party, which allows an agenda to be pushed through without opposition. From a constitutional perspective, the type of single-party government we’ve seen in recent years is just as undesirable today as it was in the 18th century.

 

AN ENEMY THAT MUST BE CONQUERED

 

But whether it's an issue of a historical ideal or present-day reservations, the fact that the November Congressional elections strengthened Republicans, who are now in control of the larger chamber and are able to drive Senate Democrats even further into a corner, is widely viewed with pessimism. Standstill, paralysis, blockade - this is the direction most forecasts are taking, which largely has to do with the sharp ideological polarization between Democrats and Republicans in recent years (which mirrors a general public segmentation into different political and cultural environments). There is bipartisan cooperation, and even President Obama found support in the "enemy camp" when he was really looking for it. His successes before Christmas prove that cooperation is possible. But desire and willingness to compromise are in very short supply - and the style has become rough.

 

[The Economist]

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The political opposition is treated as an enemy; not one to govern with, but one that must be conquered. Many Democrats exhibit cultural snobbery in their judgment of Republicans, who in turn have many in their ranks who have succeeded with hard-hitting slogans against "Washington" and who only want one thing: To drive Obama from the White House. These aren't favorable conditions for bipartisan cooperation.  

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It’s true that there is something to be gained from a period of "stagnation": party politics at the extremes will be avoided. Meanwhile, it won't lead to resentment on the part of the party that's been run over, which would otherwise cause them to seek revenge at the next opportunity. On the other hand, Obama can govern for some time against the Congress, but he needs support for his concerns. Consequently, he needs Republican support. Obama will be obliged to make more concessions than ever, even if it incurs the wrath of Democrats on the left. In general, he must regain an independent footing. In spite of his end-of-year rally, the preacher of change is far from the inspiring heights of 2008.

 

Republicans, for their part, will think twice about applying the brusque prevention tactics they've become accustomed to, and with which they have fueled the frustration of the people. As a quasi-majority party, they also bear more responsibility. At least that’s the view of lots of voters, who condone neither the extreme of an arrogant exercise of power nor venomous confrontation.

 

The next presidential election is just under two years away, with the campaign season beginning in six to eight months. At that point, policy will focus solely on what allegedly matters - or doesn’t matter, to the electorate, which will also determine the tone. It would be desirable to have a president capable of working with his Republican opponents despite his desire to run for reelection. It’s not as if all Americans were in good spirits and the country was riding confidently toward a new dawn. Dissatisfaction with government and its institutions is as significant as the uncertainty about the course of the country. And it's not only his enemies who see America's crisis of identity. Its position in the world, for example, is not what it was 20 or 50 years ago.

 

Distrust of the state is an American founding principle. But this federation in which people expect strong leadership and a willingness to embrace pragmatic solutions cannot exist without trust. Two years of paralysis - this would further erode confidence in government. To ignore central issues like government debt - that would be more than negligent. It would be a cynical gamble that puts the country’s future at stake.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US January 7, 12:50am]