Last Tuesday America voted for divided government both nationally and statewide.
The election results have caused progressive remorse and conservative jubilation. But look closer and you’ll see that neither reaction is warranted.
Why ? Because of our history. The Founders created a balanced federal system based on shared power unlike the British parliamentary model where power is concentrated in one party – today it’s the Conservative. A system, by the way, that I prefer as a more pragmatic model for governing. Give one party total power and responsibility for enacting their program and hold it accountable for its’ success or failure.
In the 20th century I can recall only two instances where one party unilaterally controlled the national political agenda and both of them were Democratic.
The first was born out of the misery and suffering caused by the unregulated stock market crash of 1929 during the Republican administration of Herbert Hoover. And just like Newton’s law that every action produces a reaction, the Great Depression was followed by FDR’s New Deal which was passed by an overwhelming Democratic Congress even though a conservative Supreme Court temporarily nixed some of its’ provisions. This unified, progressive government moved forward leading the Allies to defeat Fascism in World War II – the so-called Greatest Generation.
The second period of one party control came 30 years later – LBJ’s Great Society. This completed the lifeline to the working middle class that began with Social Security and reached its’ apex with Medicare. Both initiatives passed with near unanimous Democratic support in Congress.
In our time, the closest we’ve come to this historical consensus is the passage of universal healthcare in 2009 – The Affordable Care Act – or Obamacare, which passed narrowly in a Democratic Congress.
The recent Republican takeover of the Senate and gains in the House still do not give them a super majority to override a Presidential veto. That means that in order to GOVERN they all must compromise. A good place to start would be immigration reform which already passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The House should pass it but it seems doubtful that Speaker Boehner will even bring it up for a vote.
Regionally, Wakefield native Scott Brown, rather than being only the second senator elected from two states (Daniel Webster was the first) , ironically lost to New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, thus becoming the first candidate ever to lose to two women. Rumor has it that every incumbent woman Democratic Senator is urging Scott to move to their state and challenge them too based on the theory that third time is always a charm.
Closer to home, many were surprised at the wide margin – 55/40 – that CD-6 Congressman-elect Seth Moulton, topped Wakefieldian Richard Tisei, who suffered his third consecutive loss in as many attempts. Unfortunately, third time wasn’t a charm for Richard.
Finally, divided government prevailed in the Commonwealth too. Governor – elect Baker is still confronted with Democratic super-majorities in the state senate and house. Incoming Senate President Stan Rosenberg and Speaker Bob DeLeo hold the veto-proof override trump cards here.
In the final analysis they all – Democrats and Republicans – will have to work together to move our state and our nation forward. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing, after all.
Fred Rich LaRiccia
