Blame it on Tom and Ed

Barnie Day was a Democratic delegate from Patrick County from his election in 1997 through the 2001 session. A former county administrator and business owner, he is now a banker.

The election season rouses itself and draws nigh again, the season of mean words, perhaps, even of sticks and stones in close contests here and there.

In some quarters, folks remain distrustful of their politicians. In some quarters, the politicians reciprocate.

"All you politicians are the same," some say. "Democrats and Republicans, just alike."

Well, what about that? Are there differences? Core differences?

Of course there are. Lots of them. On a lot of issues. But one difference is fundamental to politics in this country, and certainly to politics here in Virginia, in the sense that it drives all the others.

That difference was articulated long ago.

Republicans, and conservatives generally, think we come into this world tainted, that given the chance, in the absence of constraints, Man will do the wrong thing. It is an understandable expectation, given our record since Adam and Eve. Perhaps this thinking is driven by some notion of that original sin.

Democrats, and liberals generally, on the other hand, think that we come into the world equal, and innocent-in essence, a clean sheet of paper -- and that we become, in fact, what our environments write upon us. Certainly this is the more optimistic view.

Typically couched as 'conservative' versus 'liberal' philosophy, this is the base level difference between Democrats and Republicans. Of course, this is simplified, but it is absolutely true at base level.

The origin of this difference, at least the expression of it, is older than the two parties, older even than this country.

Democrats traditionally trace their world view to the thinking of the Englishman Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), who postulated that all men, once peeled of such secondary considerations as race, nationality, religion, and such, truly are equal. This line of thinking has, obviously, had a lot of influence around the world.

And such a view is, indeed, a forgiving one, and one that presupposes differences imposed by environment.

Republicans, on the other hand, trace their core values to the great Dubliner, Edmund Burke (1729-1797). A lawyer by trade, Burke's view was that men act in their own best interests, or as he said in a 1775 speech, "Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations."

Burke's views were driven, apparently, at least to some degree, by his love of order, but still find traffic even today among the best of our Republican thinkers. Ignore, for the moment, stylistics, and ask yourself if these views, spoken by Burke 250 years ago, bring to mind present-day Republican thinking.

On Equality "That doctrine of the equality of all men, which has been preached by knavery, and so greedily adopted by malice, envy, and cunning."

On Government "It is one of the finest problems in legislation, What the state ought to take upon itself to direct and what it ought to leave, with as little interference as possible, in individual discretion."

On Interest Groups "It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare."

On Family "A man that breeds a family without competent means of maintenance, encumbers other men with his children."

And, finally ...

On Taxation "The most unjust and impolitic of all things, unequal taxation."

You think some of these values still resonate, even today? Of course they do. You can hear this discourse anywhere in Virginia where politics are debated. You're going to hear it over and over again between now and November.

Sick of it already? Sorry. Thank Tom and Ed for that.

Your thoughts?