Mediaboss Marketing

Las Cruces Sun-News 7:25 a.m. MT June 18, 2017

Walt Rubel(Photo: Courtesy photo)

If you were handed the keys to a new country and could choose any form of government you wanted, would you pick an American-style democracy?

A benevolent dictatorship would be tempting, with me as the dictator, of course. But, I havent figured out a way yet not to die. And, I would want my country to live on long after I go. Far off in the future, I would want to be thought of as the George Washington of my country. And, the problem with benevolent dictatorships is that somewhere along the line they always seem to lose their benevolence.

Looking at all the alternatives that have been tried thus far, I suppose that I would eventually settle on something akin to an American-style democracy, with some tweaks. But Im not certain that somebody else taking a look at the state of affairs today, who did not have the benefit of history, would come to the same conclusion.

Especially somebody living in Doa Ana County. Can we honestly say that our government is functioning well at the county, state or federal levels?

County government has gone from bad to worse following the 2016 election. Decisions are being made without grounding or explanation by neophytes who show no respect for either their constituents or the process of governing.

State government reached new levels of absurdity this year when Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the entire fiscal year appropriation for high education, crippling colleges and universities that had already been wounded by years of budget cuts. The action was in no way intended to make a point about the colleges themselves. Rather, it was simple vindictiveness following the Senates refusal to confirm her regents selections.

At the national level, we have new stories every day alleging wrongdoing by the president or his associates. Public hearings in the House and Senate have uncovered abuses of power, while a secret investigation being conducted by former FBI director Robert Mueller continues work each day toward an end that is hard to imagine being vindication.

Last week, all that is wrong with our politics infected one of the last things remaining that was right the annual baseball game between members of Congress. A Bernie Sanders supporter opened fire at Republicans during an early morning practice, badly injuring Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was playing second base at the time.

Congress reacted as it always does at such times, with a show of unity and a call for toning down the rhetoric. But, we have a long way to go.

And by we, Im including myself.

Thursday morning I watched on TV as a grateful father thanked President Trump for securing the release of his son from North Korea, and criticized former President Obama for his failure to do so. My immediate reaction was to lump him in with the enemy camp and reject whatever he had to say.

It only took a moment to talk some sense into myself, but that initial reaction was troubling. I have become so conditioned to seeing everything that flows from the Trump administration as destructive that it was hard to wrap my head around the concept that he, or those working on his behalf, had done something helpful.

As I think about this new country I have inherited, I imagine all the changes I would make. But it doesnt matter what form of government we have if there isnt a basic level of trust between citizens and a common understanding that everyone is striving toward the same goals.

And we dont have that now.

Walter Rubel is editorial page editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com or follow @WalterRubel on Twitter.

Read or Share this story: http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/06/18/american-democracy-still-best-form-government/406451001/

More:
Is American democracy still best form of government? - Las Cruces Sun-News