Presidential Politics - III - deep concerns

What concerns me about Republicans is that there seem to be candidates from moderate to far right all advocating courses of action, many contradicting the other.  Moreover, many seem to have a firm constituency that believes in the correctness of their proposals.  It is the lack of internal consensus that is of greatest concern.  All camps delight in extolling their virtues in equal measure to their opponents’ faults.  Another, most troubling concern, is that of the polls.  In this cycle, we see complete amateurs vying for the top spot, with essentially no records of achievement – except possibly with giving speeches.  Overall, there is so much internal dissent, it has become disturbing.  Pollsters, even the most honest, have little experience polling preferences among such a large group of participants.  They give percentages of error not sustainable even by elementary statistical methods.   Moreover, they have no method of accommodating newsworthy visibility.   Yet, polls are driving the competition like nothing else.  

What concerns me about the Democrats is that all the candidates are some flavor of progressive – mostly a far left viewpoint of how this nation should operate.  Progressivism is almost exclusively concerned with social policy.   In this case there are only two (really) candidates, both with similar views, competing over shades of gray.   A recent piece in Solon.com entitled “Just let the Republicans win: Maybe things need to get really bad before America wakes up” summarizes the viewpoint that no matter how bad our person is, morally, ethically, or capably, what is important is the progressive agenda.   What is of more concern is the abject loyalty of Democrats toward the progressive candidates regardless of their positions, their flaws, or their records.  There seems so little internal dissent it has become disturbing. 

However, over the brief 220 year history of this country, we have seen consistent and periodic swings between the relatively liberal and relatively conservative agendas.  It is as if, the country can endure one direction only to unspecified limits before it signals a change is in order.  The observer may quip maybe we should find middle ground, some compromise between the two, leading to a steady and stable future.  However, that is not the way politics works.  It does work by contrast, conflict, and contradiction.  Always has.   A current change has been in the absence of compromise in respective positions among elected officials.  Another is the choices we are offered are no longer “relative” but “extreme.”  This is not good.