Us vs. Them politics

I am aware that I exist in a vague, hallucinatory middle-ground of political opinion. I recognize and respect the fundamental difference in the beliefs of the two major American parties. But you get what you inspect, not what you expect. When push comes to shove, both parties value campaign funding and political capital more than anything else. And it is so entrenched as to obliterate the philosophical differences between the two. There is nothing inherently greedy about Republicans. There is nothing unpatriotic in criticisms made by Democrats. My rule of thumb before I jump on a political party...what would I do if the roles were reversed?

Us vs. Them politics has two winners: incumbents and money. It's easier to blame the other party. And even better, more money pours in as you up the invective and innuendo. In short, intelligent debate is bad business. This really got out of hand when Bill Clinton won the White House. The Republicans began their character assassinations almost immediately which grew more and more furious, any real dialogue shut down, and we were left with Rush Limbaugh claiming that America was "under siege". I guess it is the way of the minority party...the system prevents any real voice in government (more now than ever, thanks, neo-cons). All you have left is attacks and criticism.

Us vs. Them politics has lots of losers...primarily the citizens. People get ratcheted up to such a degree...many have a religious fervor to their beliefs, and treat them as such. Believer or non-believer. Moral or immoral. Right or wrong. In such a complex world (growing moreso every second), actual dilemmas are distilled down into easily digestible (and dangerously simplistic) views. I can feel myself start to ramble here, so I'll cut it off.

More political parties would work wonders for the country, but that is one thing the Republicans and Democrats always agree on...two parties, splitting the money (and citizenry) and keeping the opposition to a known quantity of 1. Spirited debate is a fantastic thing. We've lost it to a system that exists to perpetuate itself.

I am in the middle because I believe strongly in some of the things the progressives want, and in some of the things the conservatives want. I am in the middle, because any critical view of the failings of either political party illuminates flaws in the system far more readily than flaws in a political philosophy. Actual reform is off the radar.