Post-Election Impressions -- 2004

Some have no mind to change
One of my three careers was as the editor of an internationally circulated weekly business newspaper, and one of my pet projects was an annual Statistical Panorama (StatPan), an industry-wide product-by-product analysis of sales and technological developments.

For each StatPan, I interviewed or examined the writings and predictions of a score of prominent economists. Each year their predictions fell into three piles: 1) going up, 2) going down, and 3) uncertain.

What was fascinating was that over two decades, there were economists whose predictions went into the same pile every year!

The point? It isn't only in politics that some individuals are so driven by temperament, by predisposition, that it is fruitless to have dialogue with them because they have no mind to change.

Let's apply that thought to the post-election dialogue about whether Bush & Company need to compromise with Democrats & Company about agenda. Feelings aside, the reasoning isn't that complicated: Compromise is about how, not about what.

  • If the parties agree that Social Security needs to be addressed, for example, there can be vigorously debated compromise about how to modify the program. If one party, in this case the Democrats, insists as a matter of principle that the current program remain untouched, there is no chance for win-win, so forget compromise and go for win-lose.

  • When both parties agree that the Tax Code needs reform, the long argument will be over how and where and when. This dialogue can very well end win-win.

  • If abortion becomes a litmus test for appointing federal judges, since both Republicans and Democrats seem to be operating on principle, there may be win-lose or lose-lose, but there won't be win-win.

"Principle," to some, means a thoughtfully considered intellectual fundamental mindset about a given issue or set of issues. To others it can mean an overwhelming gut-level  feeling about, say, the role of government in society, in the marketplace.

If the former, compromise is possible.

If the latter, there is no mind to change.

FJV: 11 Nov 2004

 The squeaking wheel gets greased? Yes, but . .
Am I alone in losing sympathy for and patience with that minority of losers who can't stop whining about the election?

Once, I had as part of my editorial staff two 30-something men whom I had hired within months of each other. About two years after they came onboard, they had proved equal in competence but almost polar opposites in attitude, in temperament.

Ed was steady and, though seldom cheerful, pleasant to have around. Bill was just as steady but a bit brittle, a chronic complainer about small matters.

During Bill's performance review, I mentioned my impressions to him. He cheerfully responded, "Well, you know, the squeaking wheel gets greased."

"Yes," I replied, "but if the wheel keeps on squeaking it gets replaced."

Years after Bill and I had both left the newspaper, we encountered each other in a bookstore. As we reminisced, he said, "You taught me a lot, but I especially remember the squeaking wheel lesson."

"Replacement" for chronic political complainers will come in the form of no longer being listened to, therefore losing opportunities to influence public policy.

FJV: 11 Nov 2004

Post-Election Impressions, Royal Oak and Elsewhere
Excessively vicious negativity characterized some of the political campaign and dialogue in Royal Oak circles.

Let's begin with the victory of City Commissioner Marie Donigan over City Commissioner Carlo Ginotti for State Rep. Both candidates ran vigorous campaigns and Donigan, a Democrat, undoubtedly benefited from the changing demographics in Oakland County.

Donigan also benefited, however unintentionally, from a series of viciously negative direct mailings attributed to the "Michigan Republican State Committee" which stated that the mailings were, "Not authorized by any candidate committee."

The anti-Donigan mailings helped the Democrat first, because many voters were turned off by the hateful text and selectively unflattering photos; second, because many -- probably most --  saw only the name "Donigan" in big, bold letters as they threw away the mailing. In the voting booth, the undecided remembered, "Oh, yeah, 'Donigan.'"

Switch to the national ticket: One Royal Oak blogger's hate-filled pre-election screed includes comments like:

  • "I am deathly afraid that George W. might get a second term. I believe him to be the most dangerous man on the planet, an ignorant and isolated child in so far over his head that he doesn't know which way is up, but who nevertheless believes he can do no wrong because God's hand guides his."
  • "He is surrounded by thugs and witless ideologues . . . "
  • "The greatest tragedy in our history [9/11] was hijacked in the service of a radical right wing agenda in one of the most cynical and despicable acts in this country."

The screed is still online when this is being written, three days after the election.

A handful of sore losers, not satisfied with bending to the ground or stealing Bush/Cheney lawn signs before the election -- in neighborhoods where Kerry/Edwards lawns outnumbered  Republican lawns 15-to-1 -- are still displaying the out-with-Bush black and white no-parking-type signs.

All of which they have the right to say and do.

Let's hope that such poisoning of political dialogue doesn't spill over into civic dialogue about matters like the performance of the School Board, especially with a millage vote in the offing.

FJV: 05 Nov 2004

 In the race between Pete Webster and Dave Woodward for Oakland County Commissioner, Woodward, like Donigan, benefited from the demographic shift in Oakland County (see column at left).

Woodward also benefited from being single! Throughout his years of serving as State Rep., Dave "pulled a Sander Levin." He was visible throughout his district, attending all sorts of civic affairs, offering seminars. In essence, he never stopped going door-to-door for years, while Webster -- married, with children! -- worked as as an attorney, served as County Commissioner, and stayed home with family most nights.

The effectiveness of going door-to-door, of walking the streets for a cause, was proved by the successful Fire Fighters Union drive to amend the Royal Oak City Charter to mandate staffing levels in the Fire Department.

Ben Upton, union president, conducted a strong grassroots campaign, overcoming opposition from all other city employee unions, the Commission, civic groups, neighborhood associations, and the like. He was supported and partially financed by other Fire Fighter unions around the state (and nationally?).

For the most part, the opposition voiced its objection in letters to the editor, guest columns, and statements during Public Comment at City Commission meetings. The results seem to confirm the contention that most residents neither read the newspapers nor watch City Commission meetings.

The Fire Fighters were able to overcome the opposition by playing their "hero card" with occasional press coverage of some of their truly admirable work and by frightening Senior Citizens (which they did).

Real-world impact will soon be felt, and reacted to.

Speaking of reaction, the victory of the pro-marriage (some would say, anti-gay) amendment to the State Constitution  strengthens the suggestion made by Pete Webster during a candidates forum that the proposal was an understandable reaction after a minority has for years been pushing aggressively against majority mores.

Similar proposals passed, with large margins, in eleven states, confirming U.S. Representative Barney Frank's warning to his fellow-gays that pushing the marriage-bit would generate a backlash.

In an exchange of emails with area journalist and newspaper executive Jack Lessenberry, whose column warned there would be problems and legal contests should the proposal pass, I maintained that there already are problems and legal contests. Now, those problems will be addressed in a clearly defined cultural context.

FJV: 05 Nov 2004