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The election is over. Amazingly, the sun came up, the world kept spinning, and the American people got up to do what they always do – some went to school, some to work, and others stayed at home to care for young children or elderly parents.
We have a new president-elect, new members of Congress, and new leaders of all political stripes in positions from school boards to governor and everything in between. There are winners and losers from both sides of the aisle.
Some pundits say that about half the nation is pleased and half the nation is disappointed with the election results. They have already begun to reinforce that we are deeply divided as a country – too divided, in fact, to solve any of the significant issues of our day.
I completely disagree. There really is much more which unites this nation than divides it. I would say that Americans are actually more united than ever, united particularly in their anger toward Washington politicians and their frustration with a badly broken political system. We really can say that politics has failed. But – I would quickly add – America will not. In fact, America will succeed, because family and friends, neighborhoods and communities are what drive this nation – not politicians or government agencies.
David Harsanyi recently gave a timely retort to the overused and often abused political applause line that “this is the most important election of our lifetime.” He countered that it is actually the least important election of our lifetime because both of the major political party candidates lack the temperament, talent, courage and character to actually lead the American people.
Whether this will be the most important election of our lifetime actually has little to do with who won or lost the vote for the highest office in the land. It has everything to do with what the American people choose to do next.
If it is to be the most important election of our lifetime, it will be because it awakened, sparked and united the people of this nation to return to the principles that have fostered the most extraordinary society the world has ever known.
So – what if? What if we the people did rise up and parlay this painful national nightmare of a campaign cycle into the catalyst for a new birth of freedom? What if?
What if we the people rejected the establishment of both parties with their strident voices, demonizing rhetoric, and their preservation of power-at-any-cost approach to governing?
What if we said enough to special perks and privileges for the wealthy and the well-connected and truly leveled the playing field for every American?
What if we said no to political pandering and unkept promises from politicians and demanded transparency and accountability from our leaders?
What if we stopped looking for some political savior from Washington to waltz in and solve our problems and instead looked within?
In fact,
What if we focused on community-driven solutions to make poverty truly temporary instead of just tolerable?
What if we were simply more patient with our neighbors?
What if we took an hour out of our week and volunteered our time?
What if we chose to criticize less, compliment more and become role models instead of critics in our communities?
What if we chose to bite our tongues more, speak in anger less (if at all), and engage in elevated dialogue instead of divisive rhetoric?
What if we rejected the negative news and media spin and instead focused on real solutions?
What if each of us chose to make a difference for at least one person every day?
What if we believed that it was Morning in America again – a morning filled with hope and opportunity for every American?
This is the beginning of a new day and a new season in America – a season in which we can reject politics and business as usual and recalibrate the direction of the nation.
Whether history will show that 2016 was the most important election of our time will be determined by whether we the people can transform America’s “what-ifs” into “what is.”
I invite you to join us in the days, weeks and months ahead in the relentless pursuit of a better America – where together we take the “what-if” of a possible new birth of freedom and, by word and deed, make it “what is.”
For Sutherland Institute, this is Boyd Matheson. Thanks for engaging – because principle matters.
This post is an edited transcript of Principle Matters, a weekly radio commentary broadcast on several radio stations across the country. The podcast can be found below.
Receive this broadcast each week directly via iTunes by clicking here.
AllenNovember 10, 2016
We now have an opportunity to return to Constitutional government where the states and local governments are more important than the Federal one. However, to do that we have to take the opportunity to change our local, state and congressional representatives if they care more about their party than they do about the Constitution. That is a question that every political candidate needs to be asked. If they, and you, think a political party is more important than the Constitution, maybe a reordering of priorities is needed.
ChristyNovember 10, 2016
Thank you, thank you! The past 36 hours have found me frustrated, angry and sad because, while I am a conservative republican, I find the rhetoric that our newly-elected president has engaged in to be deeply disturbing. And the fact that he was voted in despite all he's said by the American people disturbs me almost more because I believe it shows a frightening level of acceptance for commentary and conduct that is unacceptable. That being said, your article this morning has helped me to shift my perspective. When 9/11 happened, we were all shocked. This feels similar to me in that many of us not only did not see this coming but, now that it has happened, we are left surprised (and in my case, dismayed) and wondering what to do next. Your article answers that issue beautifully and gives me hope. It is, indeed, up to us what our lives, homes, communities and nation look like going forward. I've seen great things from us in the past. So, as Gordon B. Hinckley so famously said, I will "go forward with faith." Thank you for helping me put this election in perspective.