On a personal note… I’m stepping away from content for a moment.
In today’s highly polarized political climate, it’s easy to get caught up in fear over labels like “Socialist” or “Islamic.” But what happens when we look past the titles and focus on the fundamental constitutional principles and the pragmatic work of governance?
My Take: Constitutional Integrity and the Work of Compromise
Friends have asked me how I feel about the prospect of a Democratic Islamic Socialist being elected Mayor of NYC. My response: Great! Why? To be effective, a candidate from any background or party still has to compromise and govern for all, and that’s the real work in a Democratic Republic.
You may agree or disagree, and that’s okay. My point of view?
Justice Scalia said it well: “I attack ideas. I don’t attack people. And some very good people can have bad ideas.”
Religious Freedom is Fundamental: True liberty requires more than mere tolerance – it demands principled acceptance of constitutional rights. Our Founding Fathers weren’t all Christian, and that’s why the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom and prohibits religious tests for office. I’m confident enough in my own Christian belief to respect the right of others to believe or not believe differently.
History Helps Us Understand Government‘s Role: Throughout our history, social safety net programs and regulations have provided necessary stability. Presidents – both Democratic and Republican – like Theodore Roosevelt, Nixon (EPA), FDR, and LBJ established the principle that government has a pragmatic responsibility to establish the rule of law, protect public health, and mediate between competing interests to maintain a stable market economy. Programs like Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act support this long-standing principle.
The Real Challenge: Regardless of which party is in power, we face several interconnected challenges, including the National Debt and the growing threat of environmental stability and widespread economic opportunity. The debt as a percentage of GDP is one of the highest of developed countries – a clear sign that government spending and intervention must be addressed now. It is critical to understand that the problem is not the social safety net programs themselves, but rather how Congress historically managed their funding, often prioritizing short-term budget needs over long-term fiscal discipline, which contributed significantly to the debt.
Capitalism and the Public Good: In my view, Capitalism has the best positive attributes, driving innovation and prosperity. However, it is proven that it must be grounded in the consistent rule of law to ensure fair competition, guard against corruption, protect consumers, and protect contract law.
For me, this is about prioritizing the constitutional integrity of our Republic over the fear of different labels. Throughout American history, progress has consistently come from expanding the table, not shrinking it with litmus tests.
To me, we must revive compromise, harnessing it to translate our deepest values of equal opportunity and civic responsibility into the essential, positive force that yields tangible progress for the public good. If you need a label for me – an Independent Catholic, pragmatic capitalist that is fiscally conservative and more socially liberal – it only confirms that in our Republic, complex ideas precede simple labels.
A Few Successful Bipartisan Compromises:
- No Child Left Behind Act (2002): George W. Bush (R) & Key Democrats
- NAFTA (1993): Bill Clinton (D) & Republican Congress
- Clean Air Act Amendments (1990): George H.W. Bush (R) & Democratic Congress
- Tax Reform Act (1986): Reagan (R) & key Democrats (Bradley/Rostenkowsk)
- Social Security Amendments (1983): Reagan (R) & Tip O’Neill (D)
- Clean Air Act (1970): Richard Nixon (R) & Democratic Congress (Established NAAQS and SIPs)
- Creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970): Richard Nixon (R) & Democratic Congress
- Civil Rights Act (1964): LBJ (D) & Everett Dirksen (R)
- The Great Compromise (1787): Large States & Small States
