(Democratic Conscience and the Right Thing)
Conscience is a reflection of the values of my view of reality. It demands that I see and act in ways consistent with these values. When I do not heed this demand it announces violation. What is true of the individual is true of the country. The conscience of America is its constitution – and specifically its first 52 words. To not heed its voice is to violate national integrity and both permit and invite further violation – it is to politicize my conscience which is to make it subservient to expediency.
So, yes, we should pursue the impeachment of Donald Trump. He epitomizes everything that is corrupt, de-humanizing, and anti-democratic about human relating. To not impeach would be to further legitimize the destruction of democratic conscience. Thus, if impeachment charges are actually filed by the Democratic House, it makes no difference how the Republican controlled Senate responds. The constitution demands impeachment as well as does commitment to the constitution which is the responsibility of congress. Politicians, whatever their label, will reveal their true devotion to either democratic conscience or political expediency. So, on with impeachment whatever the political results!
In the midst of this process it needs to be recognized that an actual impeachment would be a minimal citizenry victory. Immense damage has already been done to democracy by the Trump administration – damage that will take countless years to undo. Trump and his mini-me minions have already altered the majority on the Supreme Court in favor of economic imperialism’s goal of converting democracy into a profit making tool for imperialist capitalists. And these Republican Senators have already approved the appointment of over 150 life-time federal judges who, themselves, resonate with Trump’s demented brand of economic imperialism. In addition, they have been intentionally destroying collaborative global relationships.
This is why the Senate, which has most of the destiny determining consenting powers in congress, is the key to processing democratic concerns. And this why many of us wonder where the Democratic party’s leadership has its head – as well as that multitude of politicians who are running full tilt for the party’s nomination for president but have little chance of attainment. For Democrats to retain the House majority is important but far more critical is gaining control of the Senate. Otherwise, the determined and willful dismantling of democracy by the Republican Party will continue.
So, the goal of all of us committed to democracy must be way beyond the current hot issue of impeachment. It must be returning the entire government to the control of those who believe in democracy as something more than the feathering of personal economic nests. In brief, until we begin to see democracy as relational governance rather than economic governance we will continue our slide toward democratic suicide. Not to dismiss the vital importance of the economy, the ultimate issue is not how well it is doing but how well the citizenry is relating. The heart of democracy is about citizenry worth and the common good and not the Gross Domestic Product. We can survive bad economics but we cannot survive bad relating.
Robert
Yes, the prevailing attitude in this country about the blatant violation of our own constitution is “So, what?!” More than a WDC Beltway brawl, the current crisis has become a struggle for the democratic conscience of America. The time has come and is long overdue that we hold elected officials accountable for crimes and misdemeanors against our constitution. Impeachment of the president is a necessary beginning and must be followed by a serious mandate for change at the voting booth.