Nov 22 2008
How to Mend A Fence, Politically Speaking
Politicians make strange bedfellows. This isn’t exactly a new idea, and I certainly can’t take credit for the cliche, but I always find it interesting to see how bitter rivals can become cordial, even working together to make their party, their country and even the world a better place.
While some people scoff at these so-called “turncoats”, “flip-floppers” or “hypocrites”, the truth is that this is how politics should work. During elections, you have to focus on what is different between you and your opponents. This is how people make decisions (hopefully) on who to vote for.
Once the election is over, however, the focus should really be on finding that common ground, negotiating and finding suitable compromises. Finger pointing, name calling and grandstanding, while making wonderful photo ops, do little to actually benefit those whom you are claiming to represent.
Seeing Joe Biden, and potentially Hillary Rodham Clinton, both fairly bitter and critical rivals of Barack Obama, put aside their differences and work with him, certainly shows that it is possible to overcome differences of opinion when working towards the greater good.
Above the 49th parallel, we have seen what happens when a party self-destructs from infighting (Liberal Party, I’m talking to you). In cases when a politician puts their own personal agenda ahead of the good of the party or worse, the people, the results are fairly predictable - a house divided.
It can be frustrating when your representative has fundamental differences of opinion from you. However, the energy you spend tearing them down could better be put to use in building something up. Your family. Your town. Your country. Destruction can happen very quickly, and once it’s done, all you have is rubble. Construction takes time, but when you work together, the result lasts for generations.
