Treetop Politics

Why are the democrats so obsessed with grassroots politics? While this is a laudable endeavor, why do they ignore treetop politics? (Treetop politics being defined by me as the opposite of grassroots politics, as politics regarding America’s most elite and wealthiest individuals and corporations.) The Republicans have always mastered treetop politics, and now they are capturing the grassroots too by appealing to their sense of patriotism (and fear) in light of the threat of terrorism. And that is the real key to success to gain power in American politics: a top-down, bottom-up, full-spectrum approach. Why don’t the Democrats understand this concept let alone employ it?

Treason?

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it” -Mark Twain.

Yet when you don’t support your government all the time, those like Ann Coulter accuse you of treason. Most of realize just how ill informed and hyperbolic Ms. Coulter is, but her use of the word treason takes things just a bit too far. The US Constitution says ” Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.” Is this what liberals (or anyone else) are doing when they criticize a presidential administration or a political party’s agenda? Of course not. Yet for some reason Ms. Coulter feels it is treason. Has she even read this part of the US Constitution??? In some states treason is a capital crime. The term should not be used lightly. Would you accuse someone of murder if they slapped you in the face? No. Why is it that the political right is so irate at people critiquing America’s politicians and policies that they need to accuse people of a capital crime to feel better about the situation? And why don’t they feel treasonous themselves when they engage in the same critiquing? Critiquing politicians and politics is protected as free speech under the first amendment to the US Constitution. Political discourse is one of the cornerstones of American freedom; you will not be jailed for speaking against your leaders here in the US, unlike in some other countries. Political discourse has been around in the US since its birth, but why is it now considered so offensive? Sometimes I think the political right is so narrow-minded, they just can’t fathom that other might disagree with them. Why not? If you’re going to be so intolerant you should steer clear of politics. What we all really need to understand is that the right/left, conservative/liberal, political paradigm is woefully inefficient and nearly obsolete when it comes to addressing the problems America and the world faces. You need to draw from both ideologies (and some others), and not blindly follow one or the other if progress is to be made. Because both parties have a lot to offer, but not everything to offer. But that topic is for a whole new discussion!