A Reflection Of You & Me

Tuesday's election in US wrapped up what has become ever increasingly ugly campaign seasons.  Living overseas I was fortunate enough to miss all of the phone calls (the Vonage line had been temporarily disconnected for this very reason), campaign ads, unsolicited mailings and even doorstep visits by campaign workers eager to see their candidate get elected. I heard about it though. And with the fierce stalemate that has been the status quo in DC recently, combined with millions of dollars spent on a mid-term election, I can only imagine how truly painful it must have been regardless of which side of the aisle or color you stand behind. And now the people have spoken by way of their votes and that is really what living in a democratic society is all about. Right????

This recent election has the Republican Party sweeping the House and the Senate as well as many governorships. While the country is clearly divided on which strategy lays the best path for the future of our country, the voters have spoken. (One could argue that low voter turnout in some areas accounts for the final results but my challenge to them would be that those people who felt the strongest about the issues came out and cast their vote). And judging by my Facebook page these past few days it would appear that I have slightly more friends who are dismayed by the outcome of the elections than those who are rejoicing but the margin is quite close. (I have to admit that over the past few months I have enjoyed the varied and polar opposite opinion pieces that my friends have been posting. While I don't always agree with what they post, their varying opinions have certainly made me think about my own stances). As with any election there are winners and losers, people who are happy with the outcomes and those who are distraught.

A democratic government is one of the people by the people. So it stands to reason that in a country as clearly diverse and divided as our own, certain parts of the country are more apt to elect more conservative (or liberal) politicians than others. The state of Kentucky and their long term, re-elected Senator Mitch McConnell, is a prime example. Many people inside the Beltway despise the man, his politics and his practices but obviously the people of Kentucky find something they like about him because they repeatedly re-elect him. Historically we have tendencies to elect people who "look" like ourselves so who are the people of West Coast to say otherwise?  The same could be said about Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (who was not up for re-election this year). It is seriously doubtful that Texas voters would elect her as their representative yet those in Massachusetts like her just fine. Isn't that what a democracy is all about?

I'm not saying that everything is all fine and dandy with our electoral process or politics in general, but what we have today is the product of what we the people have allowed to happen. I whole heartedly thing that ever single American who is eligible to vote should do so in each and every election. By not voting you are saying that the issues just don't matter to you. People should also cast educated votes which, amidst all of the propaganda and political fighting can be quite difficult at times. However, voting for the candidate solely because they attended your neighborhood cookout (as one Washington D.C. did) is in my opinion, not an educated decision. (I saw this type of voting happening regularly when I worked for the City of Norfolk, VA. There local officials would attend and host community events to garner votes then all but disappear after they were elected until the next campaign season came around when the voters would once again re-elect them. And so the cycle continued).

And because we are a democracy, if we don't like what we see happening in our political system, each and every one of us needs to do our part to change it. We can sit back and complain about our discontent with the system and the people we elected or we can become actively involved in it. So many people have been expressing their disgust with everyone in Washington but some politicians are getting re-elected meaning that not everyone feels that way. Perhaps those who feel like they are on the "winning" side in this election can sit back and watch their candidates go to work. But for anyone who is unhappy to with these election results, they need to get to work immediately. So if you don't like it, do something about it. Not in four years, two years or even one year. The time is now. Because this is a democracy and despite its ugliness and contention at time, I still believe the process works. The majority of the people have spoken. If you want to be part of the majority next time around, the ball is in your court.

When The Statue Came Tumbling Down

So what happens when upset citizens cause a statue to come tumbling down?

Hungary- 1956

Germany- 1989 (not a statue but the idea is the same)

Albania- 1990

Iraq- 2003

Arab Spring- 2011

Ukraine- December 2013

Does anything change?

Politics As Usual?

Yesterday, in a rare moment of solitude I did something I've only done a handful of times since we've been in Albania:  I turned on the television in the middle of the afternoon.  Thanks to AFN, we have a limited ten channels of American television to choose from, which once you weed out the multiple soap operas (I didn't even realize that they still existed), the family channel broadcasting shows whose "family" status I question, and the program guide channel, left me with a choice between news and news.  I opted for watching the news.  Having narrowly "dodged" the fiscal cliff for the moment, both news channels were broadcasting live coverage of the new 113th Congress being sworn it.  As I watched old white man after even older white man (despite a record number of women and minorities being recently elected) parade to the staging area for their swearing in photo op, I found myself zoning out the prattling of the commentators and thinking about the structure of the American political system in general.

America's democratic form of government is one that is envied and often replicated (or attempted to be replicated) by countries across the globe.  Our democratic system allows us as voters to elect our representatives who in turn are supposed to advocate for and represent our interests in Congress.  When working well, it is a truly dynamic and incredible way of running a government.  When it isn't working efficiently, however, we are left with a stagnant mess where no one's interests are being met.  And unfortunately, the later has been more the case lately.  I think it has taken my living overseas, in a country with an "emerging democracy" for me to truly see how dysfunctional our own government is at the moment.

The last Congress, the 112th, was reportedly the least productive in recent history (since 1947 anyway) in terms of enacting new legislation.  Partisanship has become so rampant that, whether by principle or pure stubbornness, neither party has been willing to reach across the aisle in order to move things forward.  In fact, some elected officials boasted about their unwillingness to work with members of the other party.  (I bet these same people never played nice on the playground as kids).  Last month's down to the wire fiscal cliff is a prime example of the behavior and lack of actions that have driven most of the past political year.  As the country dangled over the edge of the fiscal cliff, Congressmen and women from both parties publicly bemoaned that they weren't happy with the emerging outcomes since they had been forced to give up issues of importance to them.  That is what compromise is all about.  Everyone gives a little to achieve the best possible outcome.  (I am NOT commenting on the merits of the final bill; that is a conversation for a future blog post).  

So my question is this:  Is Congress truly reflective of the United States?  Yes, with both men and women, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, and Asians; and Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists, like American itself, this congressional body has become more diverse.  There are liberals intermingled with conservatives, people in the middle of the road and Tea Partiers (what exactly do all of these labels really mean anyway?).  What disturbs me the most, however, is how proudly partisan everyone seems to have become.   I worry that this indeed is also reflective of America as a whole.  Are we really that unwilling or unable to compromise.  Can we really not see the other side of the issue and be willing to accept others whose values and beliefs differ from ours?  If we can't do this and work together on all fronts, is our democracy really that more developed than those of "emerging democracies" around the world?  Or do we just produce better sound bites?  

I want to remain optimistic that the 113th Congress will be more productive than the 112th.  I hope that they can hear each other and work together to achieve results that really put the interests of the United States first.  Or maybe at this point I just want to see any results....  I am proud of America's democratic history and I can only hope that in the coming year(s) we will be a good example of what functioning democracies should look like. 

And The Winner Is........................

The American people.  Or at least at the moment we are the winners.  Regardless of how we may personally feel about the outcome of yesterday's election, we must celebrate the democratic process.  Because as a free and democratic country political candidates from every demographic of American society can step forward with pledges to represent the interests of the people.  These said people in turn do their homework on the candidates' platforms then cast their votes for the candidate whose pledges best match their personal ideals.  The process if far from perfect- unfortunately issues of race, religion, and socio-economic status get thrown into the debate--causing us to lose sight of so many of the real issues.  At times it gets down right ugly--how many attack ads (in both directions) can we actually watch?   However, throughout it all, this is what democracy is all about.  The  freedom to vote is a right that many Americans take for granted.  It is the desire for this very freedom and democratic ideals that causes citizens of countries around the world to take to the streets to challenge their own governments.

Over the past few months I've watched with simultaneous interest, astonishment, and at times disgust as my Facebook friends have posted various political commentaries as a part of their regular status updates.  I've found some of the postings to be predictable while others have taken me by complete surprise.  The wonderful thing through this entire process is that I've realized the great diversity I have amongst my friends.  Who knew?   For every friend who posted in support of gay marriage, universal health care, and a woman's right to control her own body I have read counter posts that support the repeal of "Obama-care",  the preservation of  traditional marriage, and the reforming of our current Medicare and welfare systems.  

Do I agree with everything that is posted?  Absolutely not.  Some of the more thoughtful postings, however, have challenged me to really think about what and why I believe what I do.  While we agree on many issues, in the split-party Brown household, such postings have resulted in some lively conversations.  Glenn and I have debated whether health care is a right or a privilege and how the United States government should handle the on-going immigration debate.  In the end we've mostly agreed to disagree on these divisive issues but we've both learned a bit along the way. (People who know both of us might be surprised on which side of the line our individual opinions lie).

Because the American people have spoken, collectively as a country we now need to agree to disagree and work towards our shared goal of wanting what is best for the country.  If we don't agree with the outcome of the election we will have another chance in four years to change things.  Regardless of which side of the aisle we sit on, whether we are red, blue, or purple, what is important is that we move forward as a cohesive force and tackle the numerous problems and obstacles that await us.  As Mitt Romney said in his concession speech:

               The nation, as you know, is at a critical point.  At a time like this, we can't
               risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach
               across the aisle to do the people's work. And we citizens also have to rise
               to the occasion.

If we can do this, we will all be winners.  If we can't, then we all lose.   

Powerful Words From A Powerful Woman

Speaking before the Albanian Parliament

As I mentioned in my blog entry on Friday, this week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a quick visit to Albania as a part of her larger tour of the Balkans.  November 2012 also marks the 100th anniversary of Albanian's independence and celebrations will be held throughout the country.  Next year Albania will be holding national elections and as an emerging and struggling democracy with a long history of internal turmoil, Secretary Clinton's speech before Parliament raised some timely and thought provoking insight into democracy and democracies that we should all ponder. 

Here are some excerpts of her speech before the Albanian Parliament that I find particularly powerful and thought provoking for Albanians and Americans alike:

Twenty years ago, you were just emerging from the yoke of communism; now, the elected representatives of the people engage in debates and vote openly on the laws of the land, activities that were once impossible.

Back then, your economy was closed, and you have worked hard to open it, to create the conditions for entrepreneurship, trade, and investment, laying the foundation for even better economic opportunity ahead.

Back then, Albania was the land of hundreds of thousands of concrete bunkers, evidence of the mistrust that the communist leaders felt not only toward other nations, but towards their own people.  Now you are a valued member of NATO, a valued participant in the International Security Force in Afghanistan, and I express my condolences for the first loss of an Albanian soldier there.  And you are moving toward full integration into Europe as you see accession to the  European Union.

This is all grounds for celebration.  But I think we all know that Americans and Albanians can never be satisfied.  We have to ask ourselves, what more can we do?  How much better can we make life for those whom we serve?  You cannot stop now.  You have the potential to become a model, not just for this region, not just for Europe, but for the world.  (Applause)..................

First, please work to ensure that your upcoming elections are free and fair and seen as such by the entire world.  That is first and foremost so that the people of Albania can have faith in the results and trust in you as their leaders.  It's also an important  signal to the EU that Albania's politics can function smoothly and without strife.  I know many of you are focused on this issue and are taking steps now to put a clear and effective process into place, and I commend you for that.

As someone who has been in politics, and run in very contested elections, and have won some and lost others, I know how hard politics in the modern world can be.  (Applause).  And I can also attest to how elections draw the world's attention, because with Twitter and Facebook and instantaneous communications, you have to assume that everything will be known, will be seen, which is good for democracy, but it puts an extra burden on those of us who are leaders.  So I urge not only leaders of Albanian, but the people, the citizens of Albania, to work hard to make this next election a success that reflects the depth of your commitment to democracy.

At the same time, it's always important to remind ourselves that consolidating democracy requires more than elections.  It requires the rule of law.  It requires strong institutions, including an effective and impartial judiciary.  It requires openness in government so citizens can hold us, leaders, accountable.  Attributes like these ensure that democracy delivers concrete results to the people.  And when those are subverted, there needs to be accountability.

Secondly, I urge you to tackle the problem that afflicts so many democracies in the world today, namely corruption.  This is a fight every country must wage and win, because all over the world, corruption is a cancer that eats away at societies.  It drains resources, it blocks economic growth, it shields incompetent and unethical leaders, and perhaps worst of all, it creates a culture of impunity that saps people of their will to improve their own lives and communities. 



There's no easy answer to this. It's as old as human nature. I'm sure if there were any easy answer, the world would have solved this a long time ago.  Rooting out corruption demands constant effort and a shared commitment.  No matter your party, no matter your differences, I urge all of Albania's leaders to summon the political will to work together, to confront this threat to your independence.

And that points to the final challenge I want to raise to you, one that is relevant to everything I've mentioned. For Albania's democracy to thrive, Albania's leaders will need to build a culture of cooperation that transcends political differences, what Alexis de Tocqueville, the great historian of America's early years, termed the habits of the heart. They're at the core of every successful democracy.

Now, this challenge some countries are never able to meet, but I believe Albania can. Now, again, I have personal experience with this.  As a Democratic senator, I frequently worked with Republicans across the aisle to solve problems, to deal with issues that affected my state and my country. And you may have noticed that I now serve as Secretary of State for President Obama, my former rival.

People around the world still ask me how can President Obama and I work together every day as partners when we fought so hard against each other.  Believe me, I did everything I could to beat him.  (Applause).  But he won, and then he asked me to be his Secretary of State.  And so when I'm asked how, how can two people who said terrible things about each other, spent tens of millions of dollars advertising against each other, whose supporters were arguing everywhere -- (applause) -- against each other, how can you two work together?  I will tell you it's a very, very simple answer.  We both love our country.  (Applause).  And I know there is not an Albanian who doesn't love Albania.

So I hope that you, too, can find your way to sincere, sustained cooperation.  Hold different political beliefs, believe that you would be a better leader than the other person.  That's what politics is about.  You wouldn't be doing it if you didn't believe that about yourself.  But at the end, putting individual interests and party interests behind national interests is what democratic leaders are called to do.  (Applause).

The full speech can be accessed here.