As I have watched and listened to the healthcare debate over the past few months, I have thought continually about the Millennial generation. What must they be concluding about the state of legislative process in the US? It could be:
The end justifies the means. If you want something enough, it is okay the work the system. Besides, if you keep the process in play, no really knows what going on and that can be to your advantage in getting the votes you need.
If the other group has more votes, refuse to play. Rather coming up with more persuasive arguments of your own, just stonewall and attack the other side. Maybe the issue will go away if you bottle it up.
If you want to be part of the discussion, it takes big money to buy a seat at the table. Even then, there’s no guarantee that things will go your way, but that’s better than being left out in the cold.
In many ways, political debate in the US is really no different than that of a developing nation. Sure, our politicians might use bigger words and hide behind the flag, but the twisting of the truth and the accusations seem to be the same.
Of course none of this is that simplistic. For most, however, perception is reality. Twenty years from now, these impressionable young voters will be leading a good portion of the debate? What will they have learned from what we have witnessed? What impression are older generations leaving on them about the way their future is being protected? Will our political system ever recover from the polarization that has evolved over this and other issues?