FELDSTED: Politicians lead by example, and the example they display is horrendous on a good day … borderline slander and constant attacks set the stage for chaos

De Niro, Biden latest targets of suspicious packages also sent to Democrats, Trump critics.  Trump, in a rally Wednesday and tweet early Thursday, assigns primary blame to media coverage ~~ Associated Press / CBC News ~~  Oct 25, 2018

Police intercepted suspicious packages addressed to actor Robert De Niro and former vice-president Joe Biden on Thursday, and investigators said they were similar to crude pipe bombs sent to former president Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN.....

I do not often comment on American politics, but make an exception because Canada politics is headed down the same path. Most of our MPs represent the party they are attached to instead of the people who elected them. That will have bad long-term consequences. We want our MPs act like someone we would like to invite for dinner when they are on the job in Ottawa.

The media picks up its cues from political parties, and their representatives. The anything goes, no holds barred, partisan bickering is over the top. Endless disparagement of opponents, innuendo, demeaning commentary, borderline slander and constant attacks set the stage for chaos.

When common courtesy, common sense, decorum, polite and respectful debate, ethics and honesty are trampled on the floor by competing political factions, the stage is set for chaos.

Elected representatives are intended to be the voice of the people and when they resort to actions and behaviours that mirror the worst in human interactions, they lose respect and bring out the worst in the people they claim to represent.

The barrage of verbal bombs and shelling in congress and the senate lead to real bombs being sent to some of the most vocal. Waging all-out verbal war transforms into real all-out war. What else can the political class expect?

The media and elites have joined in the fray and engage in the same sort of behaviour they observe in congress. Congress and the senate are leading the way to a bigoted, brutish, intolerant society of thugs where the strong rather than ideals win the day. The thugs are now joining the fight and their tactics are more direct. Why bother with verbal assassination rather than employ the real thing?

If the security of elected representatives is at risk, it is because they caused it. 

The chasm between Democrats and Republicans is deeper, and wider, than that which existed between Rebel and Union forces in the 1861-67 civil war. Those who have studied the history of the American civil war will recall bands of brigands on both sides, who waged a war within a war, that employed terrorism and actions against non-combatant civilians that no proper army would allow or condone.

Politicians lead by example and the example they display is horrendous on a good day.

John Feldsted

Political Consultant & Strategist

Winnipeg, Manitoba