Extreme is Not Good For Democracy

Extreme--a word that is now a part of the every conservative's vocabulary.

Why?  Extreme is they way most conservatives describe our current president.  Extreme policies.  Extreme changes.  Extremely polarizing.  Extremely divisive. Extremely expensive. Extreme.

Under President Obama (and I would also partially include President George W. Bush), our country has been introduced to some of the most extreme policy changes in our country's history.  Most would argue that this extremeness has literally changed the culture of our government.

Has extreme been good for America?  Are we a better people?  Are we stronger? Is America still an indivisible nation?   Can we say with conviction, "We, the people?"

The answer is unequivocally, no.

Extremism is not democracy at work.  Extremism polarizes.  Extremism is not representative of a diverse culture.  Extremism is not in the constitution of the United States.  Extreme leadership has divided us.

Image from newsjunkiepost.com

The presidential election is 259 days away.  Our country will have the opportunity to bring an end to extremism in our national government.  Will we be successful?

Everything seems to be in the conservatives' odds to end Obama's extremism.  Namely, a struggling economy, high unemployment, staggering deficit levels, a drop in the US's credit rating (first time in history), an inept legislature, an angry electorate and an unpopular president.

One would think that this is the perfect recipe for a Republican victory, but obviously it is not.  Things do not look optimistic for our cause.  We are losing and President Obama continues to widen his chances of victory.

Yet, there was a time in the past few months when the Republican party held a solid lead over President Obama.  A time when it appeared that President Obama's chance for reelection was extremely vulnerable.  The only time this has happened was when Mitt Romney was leading in the polls.

Image from Zimbio.com

Why?   Mitt Romney's years of experience in fixing broken systems, repairing bankrupt companies, balancing budgets, record of bipartisanship, and his gift of analysis and careful decision making abilities made Mitt Romney different.  His skills made him unique.  His leadership made him remarkable.

Many Independents and even some moderate Democrats recognized it.

For several months, our country was given pause to consider what it would be like to have a true Washington outsider leading our country.  What it would be like to have someone actually have the skills to know how to repair our broken government.  What it would be like to have someone getting bipartisan bills passed without back room deals and bribes. What it would be like to have someone with a track record of being accountable with other people's money.

It appeared that most people liked what they saw in Mitt Romney.  Why?  Because Mitt Romney is NOT extreme.

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But this primary season changed everything.  Extremism has once again been given a voice.

Extreme conservatives rejected Mitt Romney's experience and only focused on a few of Romney's past moderate political stances--stances he has long rejected.  These extreme conservatives rejected him and then did whatever they could to discredit his record--to vilify his financial successes--to dishonor his accomplishments as governor--to disfavor his character and personality.  It worked.

Instead they became hellbent on finding the "purist" conservative candidate.  Well, it looks like they have found him--Rick Santorum--an extreme social conservative politician who spent 16 years in government, raised the debt limit 5 times, and who personally racked up $1 billion (yes, Billion) of federal debt for just his home state of Pennsylvania.  This individual is now leading in the polls.

Biggest problem?  Rick Santorum is very extreme.  His statements over the years and even some things have said over the past few days in relation to women's health issues, birth control, derogatory statements about homosexuality, comparing Obama to Hitler and his intertwining of religion and political ideology have demonstrated that Santorum--although conservative--will lead with extremeness.  Rick Santorum will continue to widen the vast canyon that exists between the two political ideologies in our country.

Under Rick Santorum, America will remain like the Grand Canyon--a deeply divided people--a vast chasm of ideology.

Photo from bugamerica.com

Aren't we tired of this kind of leadership?  Extreme is not democracy at its finest.  Extreme is not good for America.  Extreme leaders will never make us an indivisible nation.

America deserves more.  America needs Mitt.