Piñata Republicans

Debate has been effectively shut down in America. Every position on any issue is routinely bifurcated and assigned either to the Right or the Left, and then bifurcated again to engender intra-partisan squabbles. The ultimate winner is determined by which side is able to keep its choir from heading for the exits.

Any suggestion of disagreement with the Left is immediately met with accusations of racism, homophobia and fascism. Any suggestion of disagreement with the Right is immediately met with accusations of Marxism, radicalism and anti-Americanism. At that point debate invariably grinds to a halt and we don’t talk anymore.

With serious intellectual debate on the ropes, the ultimate arbiter becomes raw power. This paradigm is unlikely to change with Republicans at the helm.

Should Republicans win overwhelmingly in November, they will continue to be attacked mercilessly. All the power that has accrued to the White House since Obama has been in office is likely to preclude any significant improvement in our overall situation. Judging from past instances when Republicans have been in the majority, they are unlikely to wage the battles that actually have the potential to count for something. Expect no roll-back of existing policy; expect no movement toward impeachment. Instead, expect piñata Republicans merely to occupy a lower branch on the tree as to make them even more accessible to the stick-wielding children that comprise today’s media hoard.