Dr. Maccoby participates in a Weekly Forum on Washington Post.com called "On Leadership". I am compiling all of his responses to the weekly questions here.
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DATE: October 27, 2010 Campaigning vs governing: Can Republicans make the switch?Winning an election often involves taking a strong ideological position to energize a partisan base. Actually governing, however, usually requires compromise. Will today's Republican leaders be able or willing to pivot successfully from campaigning to governing? Are there lessons from other fields on how to do it? |
James Madison was right
In Federalist X, James Madison states that there will always be opposing factions in society based on different interests and passions. He writes, "A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting as to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good." And so it is today.
Scrape away the personal attacks, lies and distortions, and we are faced with different interests, passions and theories about what is best for America. Madison was hopeful that an enlightened electorate (and this only included white males with property) would select leaders "whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations." But given human nature, he wanted to construct a government that protected Americans from "corrupt" or "sinister" leaders.
Democrats and Republicans have thrown millions of dollars into this election, provided by different factions. Will they be able to collaborate for the common good? Only if their leaders are willing to discern the true interests of their country and find areas--national security, economic growth, fiscal responsibility, education, the safety net of social security and health care--where there is room for agreement.
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