The Politics of Division

I recently heard a very wise writer (Rick Bragg) say that there are three subjects that every writer or speaker should avoid in Alabama. These are, in order of their importance to Alabamians: football, religion, and politics. Mr. Bragg, I know I should listen to a Pulitzer Prize winner, but I can't help myself. And I'm about to make some folks mad.

I do not write about politics as a general rule because I do not like politics. My personal opinion is that most of the people on the Left think they are smarter than everyone else, while most people on the Right think they are better than everyone else. The majority of the folks who occupy the middle ground don't care too much one way or another, as long as both sides stay out of their wallets.

The typical political dialogue in the U.S. is a malicious rhetoric designed to sway those folks in the middle to one side or the other. It attempts to do this by divisiveness, by pitting one group against another. It is aimed at creating envy or mistrust of your fellow man. Instead of "love your neighbor" it is "watch your neighbor." After all, your neighbor can't be trusted and is probably trying to get something that you are entitled to. Both sides engage in this, Democrat and Republican.

A current example is the T.V. ad campaign for Tim James, Republican candidate for Governor in the election this Fall. The ad, which I understand has been picked up by news outlets nationwide (because it just happens to dovetail so nicely with the immigration debate), says in part "This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it."

The ad goes on to say that Alabama Driver's License exams are currently administered in twelve different languages. This is an unnecessary cost to the good citizens of Alabama that Mr. James, a self-described "common sense business man" would eliminate if we'll only vote for him.

In actuality, Mr. James could do nothing of the kind if elected. The multi-language driver's license test is federally mandated. Alabama would lose millions in federal highway funds if the exam became "English only." That's not going to happen in a State with so many crumbling roads and bridges.

James surely knows this. He also knows that such a minor cost-savings would do little to solve the State's financial woes--woes so severe that I believe Alabama will join the list of states that are insolvent by the end of this year.

It seems pretty transparent to me that the ad isn't about cost-cutting. It's really about trying to broaden his political base. If middle-class Alabamians aren't buying what he has been selling (as polls indicate), perhaps he can create some racial/cultural division. An easy way is to attack the immigrants and pick up the good 'ole boy and hillbilly vote. After all, all those "Mexicans" (the typical term for all Hispanics in the U.S.) are here illegally, and they aren't going to vote for him anyway, right?

Well Mr. James, here's one hillbilly that ain't going to vote for you.

I have a friend who is deep thinker--a university professor and a gifted poet. I recently read a blurb he wrote on Facebook in which he he made the following statement: "...I am always reminded of the time I was asked if you could be a Christian and vote for a Democrat. My response was that I don't understand how anyone who considers himself/herself a Christian could be a Republican."

Well Rob, I'm beginning to wonder how anyone who is a Christian could be either.