Calvin and Hobbes used to be my favorite comic strip. To me, Bill Watterson’s most profound quote from the comic came through a conversation that the boy, Calvin had with his tiger, Hobbes, under a starry night sky. He said, “If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.”
Stargazing normally invokes introspection, dreams for the future and humility in the face of an infinite universe. However, when we look at the stars that brighten the dark sky above, we should also think of the history of the land that lies beneath.
Light travels at about 300,000 km/sec and the sun is about 92.96 million miles away from our planet. In turn, it takes about eight minutes for the light from the sun to reach our world’s surface. Interestingly, when we look at the light emanating from the sun and from the stars, we’re also looking at the past history of the sources of light that brighten the sky.
Knowing this usually has me wondering exactly how far into the past the light from the stars at night, much further away than the sun, actually are. For all I know about astrophysics and the universe—which is little—the stars we see at night could have already exploded into supernovas long ago. Yet, that doesn’t change the powerful effect they have on us. To us, the light we see from the stars is timeless and eternal.
Analogously, as each passing day darkens out politics with frustrating new headlines of two untrustworthy presidential candidates, it’s more important than ever for America’s political leaders to harken back to the immortal principles on which this republic was founded on in order to elucidate a dismal politics. I stand confident believing that the framers did not intend for our political system to devolve to what it has become.
The probabilistic nature of contemporary politics has undermined our republic on three levels. Instead of acting upon unwavering convictions—regardless of ideology—it’s apparent that the majority of our so-called leaders act upon the whims of their masters. This has led to an erosion of our democracy and the hopes of a bright future for further generations of Americans.
Aggregate polling data of the electorate has led to politically calculated decisions that have only intensified a pessimistic politics revolving around deceit and manipulation. The Founding Fathers established our country on the hope that candidates for office would translate their ideals and vision into actionable policies for the country. The distortion of this premise by politicians whose only goal is power and remaining in office has led to a probabilistic politics where positions are irresponsibly based on what will attract the most votes instead of what’s in the best interest of the United States.
George Washington left Mount Vernon in 1775 believing that the British redcoats would burn his home to the ground prior to the Revolutionary War’s declaration. If the father of our country was willing to lose everything for what he believed in, then our aspiring political leaders should be willing to lose an election for what they believe in, too.
Too many of our elected leaders bend the knee to their corporate masters. As a result, the interests of the nation have been substituted for the special interests which drive corporate profits and diminish economic competition. It’s the reason pharmaceutical companies are able to monopolize drug pricing. It’s the reason action on climate change has been mitigated for far too long. The list is as plentiful as the number of stars in the sky. The idea of any degree of contrarianism is anathema towards the standard formula for attaining political power.
A silent tyranny has taken hold of far too many. It would be wise to remember the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.”
The imitation of political positions in both of the major parties’ ideological beliefs forces members of Congress to fall in line and act under party lines. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s words invariably come to mind each time this occurs within congressional chambers, “In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” There’s a reason why the idea of a liberal Republican or a conservative Democrat are nothing more than rarities today. The radicalization of both parties has fostered a deep polarization that not only makes bipartisanship difficult, but also has rendered acting as a maverick impossible. Any degree of divergence will lead to a herd mentality that, far too often, overcomes the individuality of personal political beliefs.
The light of those who made the very idea of America possible still shines brightly. The Founders rarely came to unanimous conclusions about the pressing issues of the day. They understood the importance of debate and fighting for one’s convictions, but they also debated from a fiery set of convictions that still burn brightly today—and makes America, as John Winthrop put it, a “Shining City upon a Hill.” Our leaders would be wise to look to the past for inspiration on how to chart the future.
John Guarco is a Trinity senior. His column, “carthago delenda est.”, runs on alternate Tuesdays.
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