THIS ELECTORAL cycle has brought the issue of values to the forefront of the American political consciousness.
Although the nation's focus on values has become an useful tool for political operatives on both the left and the right, it is hurting the American people. Indeed, this divide over values is currently threatening to bitterly divide the nation and leave the country with a government that is unable to address the people's most fundamental concerns.
The significance of this values divide is clearly on display through the numerous polls that have been taken in regards to this issue. A poll commissioned by NPR earlier this year indicates that 10 percent of the people still regard "moral values" as their most important issue, on par with social security and education. This trend has been even more pronounced in many of the battleground states which will ultimately decide this year's election. This development is shown by a recent MSNBC poll in which "moral values and family issues" was rated as the number-one issue by 12 percent of Pennsylvanians and by 16 percent of Missourians. With this in mind, the debate over values is developing the potential to be one of the defining issues in this year's presidential election.
However, despite the fact that this issue has gained a prominent position in America's electoral dialogue, its true significance should be put into a more complete context. Indeed, while issues such as abortion and gun control are important issues that affect the lives of millions of Americans, they do not carry the same significance as the issues of economic management and foreign policy success.
Indeed, while these values issues may excite the electorate of today, they will not have the same effect on America's future as will the next president's economic policy. This is particularly true in light of the fact that the incoming president must struggle to create economic growth while fulfilling the $53 trillion financial obligation that USA Today estimates the government will owe to retiring baby boomers. Because of this, the next president's success in handling the economy could potentially determine whether America's future will be defined by rising taxes and economic stagnation, or expanding prosperity and opportunity.
At the same time, while issues such as gun control may affect both urban crime rates and rural lifestyles, they will not impact the lives of average Americans nearly as much as the incoming president's success in righting the deteriorating situation in Iraq, and in stopping terrorists from procuring weapons of mass destruction.Indeed, the security of Americans will hinge on the next president's ability to fight terrorism by stabilizing the situation in Iraq and stopping nuclear proliferation, and not on his ability to affect the nation's gun laws.
With this in mind, the values debate is clearly harmful to the interests of the American people. Indeed, these issues work to convince the American people that their interests are fundamentally opposed to the interests of their political opponents. This false division harms our democracy by polarizing the electorate and making political compromises a much more difficult proposition. In this manner, the emphasis placed upon the values debate hurts the ability of our political system to respond to the very real problems of nuclear proliferation and economic insecurity.
Because of this concern, the American people will be much better served if they cast their ballot for the candidate that they believe will better serve the nation's economic and security interests, rather than the candidate that appeals to a narrow range of values-based issues. If the results of Nov. 2 turn out to endorse the politics of pragmatism over the politics of values, the American people are much more likely to end up with a government which can guide the nation through the challenges of economic difficulties and security threats.
However, if Nov. 2 proves to be an endorsement of values-based politics, the American people will likely have a bitterly divided government which is unable to protect the nation's security situation and economic future. This future is deeply undesirable by any set of values.
Adam Keith is a Cavalier Daily viewpoint writer.
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