Shunned Concepts

Note that Republicans have been rendered borderline giddy by what recent polls are showing. They’re clearly expecting a huge payday next November and beyond. I would caution that there are still many pitfalls that lie ahead. For one thing, people are not overly enthused with Republicans either. They see Republicans as being something on the order of unindicted co-conspirators. There may yet be a huge push for a third party (which would split the Republican vote and give Democrats a victory). Democrats themselves are divided, though none of them can be expected to vote Republican.

The Obama election set the template: “Anybody but Bush and (to some extent) Republicans.” Republicans themselves buckled, disavowing their own support and principles, reaching across the aisle to embrace questionable Democrat proposals. All this has left a bad taste in voters’ mouths. Taste is the sensation that lingers the longest in memory. It is a factor that cannot be overlooked.

Even more disturbing is the possibility that once the new congress is seated, it will find itself marginalized and unable to stop anything that the executive branch puts forth. Once the people catch on, they will begin to question the efficacy of representative governance. “Democracy” will become a shunned concept, similar to what “capitalism” has become.