Integrity
Most of us view our personal history and past events through colored glass. In other words our memories are skewed by the details we remember, the feelings associated with those thoughts, and the subjective filters we unconsciously choose when considering the past. This type of memory is referred to as nostalgia, creating a rosier view of our experiences than what may have actually happened. “Ah, the good old days!” is a phrase commonly heard when someone begins reminiscing about the past.
I mention this propensity to misremember our view of years gone-by because I may be engaging in the same behavior when discussing what I perceive as a diminishment of integrity and decorum in day-to-day life. Not that everyone was honest and upstanding in their personal and business lives over the last hundred years. Scammers, crooks, and thieves have been operating in societies throughout the world for millennia, so I have no illusions that the “old days” were a bastion of upright citizens and wholesome goodness.
What seems to be the case is that over the past 70 years integrity, decorum, and honesty in the general public and from this country’s leadership has been eroding. In particular this decrease in civility can be observed over the last 12 years. And as much as I would like to place all of the blame for our descent into this untenable situation onto the current head of state, he is only partially responsible. I don’t believe that a Donald Trump-like character would have been able to secure a nomination 30 years ago much less the presidency. His demeanor would have been viewed with incredulity by the public and his despicable antics laughed at and shunned instead of taken seriously.
Recent history has been more of a perfect storm catapulting a mean-spirited bully into a position of enormous power and authority. To better understand this phenomenon we can look to the late 1980s and early 1990s when people such as Ralph Reed, as a part of the Christian Coalition, gained access to the Reagan White House bringing with him politicians like Pat Robertson who spouted a far-right populist message. This was followed up by Republican strategist Karl Rove and his win at any cost campaigns. Newt Gingrich soon became speaker of the house and looked for any means at hand to diminish Bill Clinton and the then rise of liberalism. Nothing was off the table with regard to dirty tricks and underhanded campaigning.
This strategy worked, at least for a while. But even with victories by Democrats, the groundwork had been set, and the long-standing precedents of integrity and decorum had been broken into tiny pieces. Take as an example the juxtaposition of President Clinton facing impeachment over his consensual encounter with one woman as compared to what is happening at the highest levels of government today. The difference is astounding and that was less than 30 years ago.
As is the case within much of the historical political landscape, the pendulum of popularity would swing from one side to the other. Over the course of this country’s history, that was probably a good thing (aside from that small skirmish called The Civil War). Compromise and discussion were used to form laws that kept the United States moving forward, even if it might have been slow going. Of course there were times when emotions ran high but ultimately those governing this country found common ground and we kept functioning.
As that pendulum swung back from eight years of an Obama presidency the population of the country fractured even further. The disharmony which had been sewn by the neo-cons of the 1990s began working its magic and those who had once been staunchly in the democratic camp felt disenfranchised and wanted someone who would at least give a semblance of strength. In addition, these voters began feeling a nostalgia for an era they were told existed but was usurped by the Democrats. In other words, “Make America Great, Again!” as if we had lived in a utopian society at some point in the past. We didn’t!
I firmly believe we had more integrity and a sense of greater self-worth in the not-too-distant past. But as easy as it is to point fingers at politicians on both sides, society as a whole was also moving away from civility. Large scale capitalism spurred on by huge corporations and a demand for ever higher profits began applying the same tactics Karl Rove employed for the right-wing agenda.
The crushing of competition through nefarious means by using tactics that might be barely legal (or even over the line) became standard operating procedure because the financial health of the nation fell well behind the personal enrichment of individual shareholders. To fully understand this we need go no further than 2008 and the various crises that ensued from the housing bust when only the middle and working classes were hurt. Or even currently with the blatant manipulation of the stock market by overly greedy kingpins of industry and their lapdogs in Washington DC. When these people are exposed, the penalties, if there are any, are equivalent to a scolding not to get caught again.
To be perfectly honest I do long for a day when integrity, honesty, and decorum might become a part of the fabric of our society. Whether it ever was to the degree I imagine might be up for debate. But what I do know, with absolute certainty, is that it won’t happen under the banner of Make America Great Again.
As you often are, Tobin, you are right. One tends to forget that Right is a nuanced, slippery concept. This article fell on my desk today [ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/john-roberts-s-dream-is-finally-coming-true/ar-AA1S5cNf?ocid=socialshare%5D about John Roberts; a truly Righteous Man who has worked diligently, taking steady small steps, often facing disappointment with his Beloved Leaders –never losing sight of his integrity and goal to make the United States a truly more bigoted, hateful, and regressive nation.
The “Lost Cause” was never truly lost. Jeff Davis and R E Lee were not hung for treason nor were any of their compatriots. Now their spiritual descendants are in charge of the federal government and likely the military. A more bigoted, hateful and regressive nation is quite profitable if you’re ensconced in the White House. Everyone on the outside are chattel.
I asked our Congressman why the Supreme Court is so political and how can they possibly refer to themselves as Originalists. His first response was,”What Supreme Court?” He was kidding to a degree but the bottom line is that the current right wing members of the court have completely shirked their oath of office to embrace a political ideology. Roberts, who once seemed to enjoy the title of moderate, has drunk the Trump Kool-aid and given up any semblance of his former ostensibly moderate self. I believe he is completely unaware of his own acquiescence which makes it even more dangerous.