The Loyal Opposition

How soon we forget. How many Republicans remember their days in the minority, when Congress was run by the Democrats? Back when Conservatives were the Loyal Opposition, looking up at those who sat on high and lorded over them the power of Seniority and Numbers. Back then, you heard a lot about the "loyal opposition." But now that the shoe is on the other foot, it is sorely lacking. Liberals feel that all protesters are seen as traitors (click on the button on the left to see the movie, it is pretty cool - and Flash so it should run on both Windows and Mac).



So what is the function of the "loyal opposition" supposed to be? To become the new majority? Well, that is what drives many of them on a personal level, but it is not really what makes the minority important. The role of the loyal opposition is to keep the majority on its toes, and to keep those in power honest. The majority will naturally tend to protect themselves, and to become drunk on power and careless in its use. This is why second term presidents tend to run into scandal - they have power without the checks of having to answer for its misuse, because they can not be elected to a third term. But the minority is the yapping noisy dog at the heels of the majority. The loyal opposition serves as a check on power, as a reminder to the people that the man at the top is not always right, and that the scariest thing about being on the top of the mountain is the distance one can fall.



The Republicans have to remember that the Democratic minority can be useful, and even important, in our American system. And the Democrats have to remember the loyal part of "loyal opposition." All is not fair in politics and war. Confront, oppose, and expose your opponent. But remember that (in general) your worst opponent who is an American, is a far better friend than your closest ideological ally who is a terrorist.