Musings on today's politics

I used to enjoy writing a “letter to the editor” from time to time, but somewhere along the line I lost my taste for that.  I guess today’s political situation just may change a few attitudes, though, not just my attitude towards writing.  And so....

Well, it’s like this, friend:  I am a white man, from parents who were German, on my Mother’s side, and Scotch Irish on my Dad’s.  Now, if you were to want a bit more info on me, I would be able to supply just a bit were I to adopt the naming used by many of our Southern (really Southern) neighbors.  But that could give the criminal element just a bit much, so I won't go there.  Aside from that, I am a scientist, which I point out to remind all that regardless of our more recent heredities, we all remain creatures that are all “out of Africa.”  Think the original Adam and Eve were white?  Your right, I guess.  Still, here I am, born in the South, raised in the South, living in South Carolina, and I tell you, friend, while I am and have been an independent from the beginning of my political life, I am now considering joining with the Democratic party to work for that party and help it in its attempts to win in South Carolina in the upcoming election and in the election of 2020.  And, even though you may find some people I know who will tell you “he’s just an outsider at heart who wants you to think he knows something you ought to consider while he is, of course, wrong in every way,” yes, even though there are some out there who would say this about me and others like me, I feel the following needs to be said, and I hope everyone might give these thoughts some consideration in spite of the strength of that particular bone they may have in their heads that overwhelms any attempt they may make to give the least bit of realistic consideration to anything that may go counter to what they have believed for, say, since Trump was elected as well as, perhaps, for a few more years before that.

And, to elaborate just a bit more, while I would undoubtedly disagree with those who would criticize my current political thinking, and while I would still fight (as I once was privileged so to do, thanks to an angry draft) for their right to criticize me at any time for my thoughts and wishes in the matter of what needs to be done in South Carolina, and, yes, in America in general, I must say, while they probably will not find much to agree with here, it’s just because they and their minds are so steeped in the past and rooted in the current across the board Republicanism of our state that they refuse to give one iota of consideration to anything anyone might say that could be considered critical of that kind of thinking, especially after having read the beginning of this “letter.”

When I was in High School, I was part of a South Carolina that was part of the solid “Democratic South” that had been in charge in the South for years and years.  It wasn’t until Strom Thurmond made his decision to change parties in 1964, stating the Democratic party had grown away from him and his thinking to the extent that he really had no choice but to change parties, that things began to change.  Most would say Strom was right to do what he did.  As also, so I believe, would be any other politician doing this today, but, of course, that politician would have to go in the opposite direction than did our venerated Strom. 

You see, today our political situation is the exact opposite of what Strom found in 1964.  Today it’s the Republican party that has roamed away from its roots and become the staid party of choice in South Carolina, doing all sorts of nothing for years to maintain our roads, our state parks, our public utilities, and all sorts of other things that, quite simply, required funding over and above that which was provided after Strom made his move and others throughout the South followed.  “Ah’ve nevah in my whole cahreah voted for a tax increase” was how one politician put it, suspecting (rightly) that his constituency would find this to be just one more reason to return him to office at the next regularly scheduled election.  (And return him they did.) 

And now, what do you suppose the name of the game might be?  Well, for one thing, there is that tax increase found at our gasoline pumps.  That’s right, a tax increase, one that our Republican controlled legislature approved sometime about a year ago, or so, one that is currently going into effect.  This tax increase is being used to fund construction on our highways and bridges as we speak, something that just might give those current legislators something to brag about (not the tax increase, mind you, just the construction) in advance of our next general election.  “See how we’re improving our state’s transportation system?  Do you think the Democrats would be doing this?” is what we might expect to hear, wouldn’t you think?

How many others might come to the conclusion along with me that would allow them to move in opposition to the current majority in our legislature?  Also to consider is how many of that majority might be thinking there just might be something questionable about that “base” that is considered to be supportive of President Trump in all things.  This President may be on a path that would change our mostly bicameral legislature into a more viable tricameral grouping (if there is such a thing) that would be more representative of those in the electorate, some of whom might give up their “independent” status and join some Republicans and some Democrats to form a third party—one that might even become controlling in future elections.  Would this be a good thing?  You be the judge. 

And so it goes.  What is needed now is for someone, some strong leader in our legislature, to consider being the Strom of our era and allow a migration from the Republican party to the Democratic or, even better, to that middle party suggested here sometime in the near future.  Could this happen, my friend?  Perhaps.  And then what?

It’s said that politics breeds strange bedfellows.  Hang onto your hats, folks:  With RINO Trump at the helm in Washington, breeding season could be just around the corner.

Stephen V. Geddes

Aiken