1. Race and Poverty in America
2. Religion and Patriotism
3. Federalism in America
4. Regionalism in America
5. American Exceptionalism

April 21, 2001

Reflection: Driving through the heartland I pondered American political life (what else do farmers in Iowa think about, right?). I am convinced that there is no such thing as political science, only political theory and political observation. Politics is far from a science - chance, personality, disaster and luck influence it. "Political Science" is a joke, but political observation is one of man’s greatest intellectual endeavors - from Aristotle to Burke to Tocqueville to well, okay to my little road journal as well.

Here is my latest observation on American political life:

Race and Poverty in America (Click link to read excerpt)

From the three-fifths compromise at the Constitutional Convention, to slavery and the Civil War to the civil rights movement, school busing and the current battles over Confederate battle flags in South Carolina and Mississippi, race is a dominant factor in American political life. Yet, if race represents our greatest failures, it also represents our greatest victories. America is a nation for all colors and creeds, and our great struggles with race allow us our great victories as a people as well. Race is not only a problem in America, it is also an asset. Attempting to solve race brings out the best in Americans and our beliefs. Likewise with poverty. Poverty is a reality in America, as we approach the Mississippi Delta the next couple days I will keep my eyes open. But poverty is the exception in America, not the rule. Poverty is real, but so too is social mobility. Urban poverty and rural poverty differ in terms of race: black poverty appears much more centered in urban areas and rural poverty is mostly white. Yet, the causes of poverty remain very similar. Single mothers without fathers providing for their children. Solve that problem, and you largely solve poverty. No one is guaranteed millions in America, but if you have children within wedlock, stay married, finish college, and avoid drug and alcohol addiction you have a good chance of making it financially in America.

Religion and Patriotism in America (Click link to read excerpt)

From George Washington’s prayer at Valley Forge to Lincoln’s Second Inaugural to every state of the union which ends with "God Bless America" to the dollar bill which states, "In God We Trust" to every town in America that has a church and a war memorial, this fact is clear: Americans are a religious and a patriotic people, and the two have something to do with each other. Why? Our founding document, The Declaration of Independence, states that our rights come from God - not man, or government or the United Nations but God. Just examine presidential rhetoric during times of crisis and one will see this truth: Americans believe God is on their side.

Federalism in America (Click link to read excerpt)

The great genius of American political reality is the division of power between local, state and national political bodies. Examine government’s most central obligation: protection of citizens. Police are organized by local municipalities - that is where the vast majority of citizens are protected the vast majority of times - at the local level. In times of more major crisis, however, state governors can call in the National Guard - to stop rioting, protect communities from flooding etc. This happens rarely. Finally, during times of national invasion or war, protection is mobilized on a national level - by the President. This occurs most seldom of all. What genius! Lesser uses of power occur most often and are controlled by local authorities. Greater uses of power occur rarely and are controlled on a state level. Lastly, the greatest uses of protective power occur most rarely and are controlled by a national power. In America, the genius of our political system lies in the fact that Presidents have power - but so too do all fifty governors and thousands of mayors and local chiefs of polices.

Regionalism in America (Click link to read excerpt)

Not to be confused with federalism, regionalism is how geography determines political ideology. The two are similar (federalism and regionalism) but not at all synonymous. From America’s founding to the modern day, the urban/rural divide in American life has created political tension. Whether Hamilton’s vision of a dynamic, urban, industrial nation of merchants, bankers and manufacturers versus Jefferson’s notion of an "Agrarian Republic" America has always had political divisions based on geography. The urban experience is different from the rural experience. This is expressed in music (drive from the cities listening to rap to the country hills listening to bluegrass if you don’t believe me) cloth, values and politics. America is great because she has both distinct rural cultures, and urban cultures, even if they clash at times.

American Exceptionalism (Click link to read excerpt)

There is something unique about America. This especially influences our nation’s view of ourselves in international relations. We don’t just export blue jeans and Hollywood movies - we export our values as well. Americans believe not only in the fundamental righteousness of our cause, but in the superiority of our system as well. This relates to number 2, because Americans believe that God himself is a part of our nation’s story. America is great not just because of her military or her economic system - she is great because of her view of mankind.