More on midterm aftermath

Bad quarrels come when two people are wrong.
Worse quarrels come when two people are right.
  - quote from Betty Smith, 1948, best known for "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"

Smith's quote seems to hit the bulls eye when considered in light of today's polarized political mindset.
Of course, in this case, both sides are doubly sure they are right and the other side is wrong, so perhaps bad quarrels have surpassed worse and moved right through to devastating.

Just to review, Tuesday's midterms gave both sides, GOP and Dems, conservative and liberal, reason to claim victory.  In the House, the Dems have flipped at least 32 seats (they needed 25) to gain control of this chamber, with a few results still to be determined.  In the Senate, the GOP gained 2 seats, increasing their advantage.  And, in the states themselves, the Dems realized a net gain of 6 Governor mansions, reducing the GOP advantage from 33-17 to 26-23 with one (Georgia) still outstanding.

What this means, is that, as past history has demonstrated, the party in the White House lost partial control of the Congress, providing a check to the danger of one party rule which can often result in a lack of representation of those who voted for the minority party.  It also means that President Trump can tout his ability to get out the vote, and that he was successful in stemming the blue wave.  Also, that his goal of refashioning the judiciary by infusing it with conservative judges, will continue with an even more GOP majority in the Senate.  It also indicates, that, at least for this election cycle, more voters lean to Democratic candidates than Republican, an advantage that seems to be about 7%, one very similar to the opposite result which occurred during the 2010 midterms.

And, of course, if you want to hear an endless litany of how your side won, just tune in to your favorite biased news source, and you will be regaled with real and imaginary reasons why you should be happy.

What is missing however, sadly, I might say, is the question; did America win?

Here is my take on this much more important question.

Extremely high voter turnout, almost 50%, is certainly a win for our country.  Sure, it means that half of registered voters did not bother to exercise their civic duty, but it was the highest turnout in at least 50 years, perhaps even 100, if we manage to eek our way over the 50% number.  So, regardless of your persuasion, a big HOORAY for the American electorate.  Let's hope this becomes the norm rather than an aberration.

A record number of women won seats in Congress on Tuesday which will increase female representation in Washington from 107 members to at least 118.  Out of 535 total, that sounds a bit slim, but if 10% more per cycle continues, we might see a more representative profile within a generation, which may also produce our first female president. 

This election cycle also resulted in a more diverse collection of representatives, first Native American Congresswomen, first lesbian Governor, first Muslim representative, even the first person of color elected ever, from one state.  A more diverse composite means more diverse perspectives are presented, and hopefully, acknowledged, even if not always favored.  It reflects one of our core values, the melting pot of various cultures, origins, beliefs, and viewpoints into a working government that respects all its citizens, even, and especially those in the minority.  Try reaching that goal in an authoritarian or oligarchical government.  Again, kudos to us!

A step away from one party rule.  This seems to be a favorite tactic of the American electorate, put all our faith in one party, briefly, then force them to work together by sharing the duties. 

Will it work this time?  Clearly, that will be up to the Dems.  As I said in my last post, this president does not shy away from confrontation.  The new leaders of the House and its committees must certainly press forward to guarantee Mueller's investigation is completed, and the results made public.  But forget impeachment, there is no upside there.   Move forward with bipartisan legislation that the Senate will consider, while sprinkling in some priorities of the left, just to force McConnell to table them, transparently, or Trump to veto them should some emerge, perhaps watered down a bit, from the Senate.   

Also, and perhaps the best way to continue the trend towards electing Democratic candidates, push for immigration and health care reforms.

On immigration, spend some money for border security, even some on a wall if necessary, to provide a path of citizenship for those children brought to this country illegally.  Provide real leadership and ideas that assure middle America that the hyperbole of invading illegal immigrants is nonsense, by countering it with actual facts about immigrants, both legal and illegal, in terms that recognize the angst that some Americans feel about the changing composite of our country, acknowledge that those who engage in criminal activity will be incarcerated or deported, and emphasize the similarities between today's immigrants and our own immigrant ancestors.  Sure, the true racists won't listen, but those in the middle, independent voter and affiliated ones, will.  As will America.

In the area of healthcare, one which the voters seem most concerned about, demonstrate a willingness to listen to those that the Affordable Care Act helped and harmed.  Where helped, via the pre-existing condition rules, maintain that aspect.  Where harmed, perhaps by too high a bar being set on the basic coverage that everyone needed, allow for a combination of catastrophic coverage that reduces premiums while eliminating the possibility of bankruptcy, and/or other types of high deductible plans that give people more choice on what they need to cover in terms of their own health.  Also, without pushing too hard, continue the drive towards a single payer system where all Americans are included in the same pool, thereby spreading out the costs of sickness.  But this time target businesses, especially small businesses which struggle to provide health care insurance for its employees.  If we can get the business community on board by removing their responsibility (and cost) to provide health insurance, we can both free up money for these businesses to use for salaries, investment, capital projects, etc, while providing employees with the certainty that they can change jobs or even start their own company without sacrificing health care insurance.  And America wins again.

In some ways, the voters already indicated their willingness for more government participation in health care by electing those Democrats who ran on this issue, and by electing more Democratic governors who will be willing to expand Medicare for their states' constituents.  The key is too present it as a win-win for American business and all Americans.  Control costs through expanding the size of the pools with private health insurance companies providing the plans while basic coverage is paid via payroll taxes and anything required above that level is "shopped" for, by the customers, providing them a certainty that they will be getting rates which match their situation regardless of whether they work for a huge conglomerate or the neighborhood employer.  When healthcare costs are reasonable, value oriented, and fair, and when health care services are accessible to all, the very sick especially, then we will be able to boast that our health care system is the best in the world. 

If this were a sporting event, I conclude without hesitation that America is winning.  But big leads can be squandered, defeat wrested from the jaws of victory.   Cooperation and compromise will bring us to the finish line, not confrontation and rhetoric.  Great leaders bring people together, through inclusion, not division.  America wins when our leaders quarrel from the perspective that each side is right and wrong, and the debate should be to find the best of both worlds, not focus on the worst of each.  Let's hope that in two years, we look back on this week as the foundation of our turn towards understanding that America does not win until both sides root for all to win, not just their tribe.