IN THE United States, we only have two viable choices when Election Day rolls around: Democrats or Republicans. The United States has a two-party system, which means that our electoral laws are structured in such a way as to support only two major political parties. These two main political parties wind up being very close to each other, since they are competing for the same votes. This makes our federal government very stable, but it also means it is hard for major change to occur. Real change occurs at the local level and citizens should be less focused on national campaigns and more concerned with what takes place in their own backyard.
With only two major parties, only one can be in power at a time, unless the executive and legislative branches are split, and then no one is completely in charge. When the balance of power does shift, it only goes so far to the left or right since the two political parties tend towards the middle anyway. Sure, Democrats and Republicans have their differences, but when the government changes hands we can all still agree on the need for public education, a well-trained military and clean drinking water. While ideological views may be very far apart, the resulting policies tend toward the middle in order to get enough votes to pass.
The vast majority of the public thinks the country is going in the wrong direction, and yet our governmental structure does not allow this to be easily changed. Real change would be better enacted by lining up Constitutional amendments to federalize education, outlaw abortion or whatever else strikes your fancy. But Americans can’t agree on these topics and so the government stays in the center and out of the line of fire as much as possible. Our two-party system has effectively ensured that change is not coming, no matter who sits in the Oval Office.
If change is what the people want, and I hear this country’s government is subject to the will of the people, they should work on issues closer to home instead of expecting Washington to deliver a magic bullet that fixes all of their problems. Voting isn’t the end of civic responsibility — our governmental lackeys can only do so much.
In smaller electorates, communities are able to debate and discuss the best policies for them, which may be very far from the center. Communities have similar concerns that could never be understood on a national level. Issues like affordable housing and a living wage are specific to different areas and small changes have a big impact. There is no need to wait for the national government to lower taxes if that’s what people want and need right now. Higher standards for education do not require a federal mandate to be enacted, just concerned and engaged citizens. Universal healthcare is within the reach of each county in Virginia, if they want to expand coverage and open their hospital doors.
It turns out it’s not so important if Democrats or Republicans gain control of Congress, since in either event there will still be taxes. The Democrats will raise taxes and the Republicans will cut them, canceling each other out over time. It’s not so important which man — and I have to say man, since the U.S. has yet to join developed nations with a female executive — runs the country, since no matter who wins, we will still have battles to fight in the Middle East. How those battles are fought are influenced by but still beyond the control of only one person.
Small changes in policy do not change a country overnight. Major changes, like a declaration of war, are a product of more than partisanship. Every president faces decisions that are easy for his opponents to condemn him for, but global situations are to a large extent beyond executive control. Never mind that the economy is almost completely beyond their control — the market will always have its highs and lows, and the natural cycle of the economy should not be used to evaluate the government’s job performance.
It is hypocritical for Americans to clamor for change and yet be unwilling to work for it in their own communities. Presidential elections are glamorous and exciting, but local politics are much more meaningful. Voting in major elections is like asking your mom for money. Becoming engaged in local politics is like getting a job to earn your own.
Annette Robertson is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer.
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