Scott Brown’s stunning victory in the Massachusetts senate race on January 19th was nothing short of remarkable. Personally I would have to say it was one of the most interesting and surprising political events of my life, and that covers some intriguing occurrences.
The night of the election my democrat friends were beside themselves, with much gnashing of teeth and self recrimination, wailing that “they” had lost. How could such a thing have happened, in Massachusetts, of all places, arguably the most liberal state in the union?
My republican friends were too busy high-fiving each other and generally gloating to notice. After all, how could such a thing have happened, in Massachusetts, of all places?
As a recognized independent I’ve since been engaged in many conversations trying to convince both sides that they are wrong.
The truth is that America won.
For years we have apparently (though erroneously) believed (as did both the people of Massachusetts and the Kennedy family) that this seat was theirs by entitlement. But paraphrasing Brown himself, no one party (or person) should “own” any seat or any position in our government by “birthright.” The concept should repugnant to people who love freedom.
Republicans certainly didn’t “win,” in the traditional sense because Brown’s victory was not created by republicans. The election was carried by independent voters, men and women who are a fast emerging force to be dealt with by both parties.
And in a way the dems won, too. The highflying, grating rhetoric of Pelosi, Frank, Reid and the rest has been ratcheted back a series of notches and, to put it bluntly, they have been put into their places not as dictatorial arbiters, but as servants of the people.
Now perhaps REAL bipartisan debate can come to important issues face our nation, rather than secretive, unilateral meetings behind closed doors. Perchance now debate can thrive and that is always a good thing in a democratic republic.
And perhaps the president will realize he is actually going to have to work for what he sees as his mission, rather than reciting high-flying platitudes from a teleprompter at some carefully scripted “town-hall” meeting. America and Americans are perhaps a bit more complex than he and his insiders once believed.
It is a good thing that people are finally learning that voting a “straight party line” is restrictive and obtuse. We are learning to vote for people and ideas rather than parties and ideologues.
We all share Scott Brown’s victory.
S. C. Dixon
724 Commercial
Emporia, KS.