Swinging The Pendullum, Seeking Harmony And Balance

DESPITE THE ADVENT OF TRUMPISM, there is a dull stirring of life on the far North American left. In Mexico, the left wing populist candidate won the presidency, and we hope he doesn't turn out to be or continue to be as much as demagogue as our new crop of right wing populist leaders. Demagouery can come from all sides, the screaming, the hatred of unseen enemies, the attacks on "establishment" institutions. In other good left wing news, a twenty eight year old lady in new York, calling herself a "socialist" won a congressional primary, and will probably end up with a seat in congress. Is the pendulum beginning to swing? It seems likely that come November, conservatives will lose some ground politically, as off year elections, especially with unpopular presidents, usually result in the party out of power making headway. Would left wingers really be happy if all conservative political leaders were swept from power, leaving the world to progressive leadership? Or would conservatives everywhere be pleased if liberal ideologues ceased to exist, except as a few examples consigned to museums? No, probably not. We do not want to live in a world with constant change and no lasting traditions, and certainly a world without change, relying only on traditional institutions and values, would become stagnant. The United States, and the rest of the world, is healthier with a balance of power between left and right, that constant political tension which results in compromise and problem solving. For those of us who reside on the extreme either end of the political spectrum, be careful what you wish for. Although you might not often reflect on it, you need your political opponents as much as you need your friends.