As Americans, we often view the abstract idea of our republic with pride. The representatives that the people send to Washington are there to advance the interests of the common citizen all within the framework of a Constitution and a Bill of Rights that protects freedom, liberty and fairness. It’s a great system, right?
Today, obstructionism has replaced democracy in one of our major political parties, and inexplicably, this strategy continues to impact the function of our government. I may have come to this realization during the federal government shutdown of 2013 when over 2 million federal employees lost their guaranteed income due to a game of chicken that certain lawmakers used to try to shrink the government. Or maybe the idea dawned on me this February when the House voted for the 67th time to repeal Obamacare. That’s not a typo—while Congress passes a historically low number of bills, they apparently have time for political posturing.
Perhaps the idea became clear when numerous public figures pretended to not understand how the First Amendment works in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.
Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Alabama’s own Judge Roy Moore—along with his lawyer Win Johnson—and presidential candidate Bobby Jindal all have several things in common. First, they are incredibly smart people, having graduated law schools, run state governments, and developed successful political networks. Second, they have used their talents to gain influence and a voice, with varying success, that seemingly has credibility in some corners of the political landscape. Third, these smart men have all knowingly lied to Americans so they can advance their own agenda and remain popular with those that don’t understand—or care—about what the First Amendment really means.
In an open letter on the topic of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on same-sex marriage (that many believe is directed at Governor Bentley, who had a reasonable response to the ruling), Moore’s lawyer Mr. Johnson writes, “Public official, what will you do? Will you stand up for the law of Alabama, for the people, for the weak and vulnerable, for the law of God? Or will you capitulate? Will you become complicit in the takeover by the wicked?” This incendiary and entirely false idea makes me want to question if this man even went to law school.
The worst of the response to the same-sex marriage ruling has seen public officials like Judge Moore place the “law of God” above the law of the United States, and Bobby Jindal declaring “no earthly court” can alter the definition of marriage. These statements are completely and utterly irresponsible coming from elected officials in the United States. These men who would likely decry the theocracy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seem to want to create a Christian Republic of America.
These smart men don’t actually believe what they’re saying has any legal power. Instead, they say these things to capitalize on a situation that has many people, particularly in the South, feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. This is the new normal in American politics, and it has replaced true representative democracy with obstructionism and dishonesty. The only way to combat it is to have an informed electorate, but, as it has been well documented, that isn’t always the case. Our system of democracy and fairness will eventually win out, as it has for 239 years now, but we may have to endure some of this unfairness and dishonesty a little longer.
Kyle Simpson is a junior majoring in biology. His column runs biweekly.
