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Government Action v Individual Self-determination

Have you ever wondered why can’t Democrats and Republicans get along?  Why is the relationship so contentious that almost every major issue becomes totally partisan?  Indeed, a recent study concluded that the two sides (liberal/conservative; left/right; Democrat/Republican, etc.) are further apart than they have been since 1900. That’s 125 years!

After more than 50 years of political involvement, from volunteer to elected legislator, I believe I can shed some light on this conundrum. Two primary realities are getting in the way of compromise: (1) escalating incompatibility of their opinions on how to solve problems, and (2) their inability to communicate.


Government v. Individuals. 

Over time, the core beliefs of each side have solidified. Democrats believe that government can solve problems and is often the only way to do so.  Republicans disagree; we believe that individuals given freedom from government “overregulation” are far better at solving their own problems. 

I fall into the latter group, and I can assure you, it is a difficult sell.  I understand the appeal of the Democratic approach—identify a problem, apply a solution.  Unfortunately, that solution is almost always more money. 

The Republican approach looks beyond today, and asks how the people receiving this assistance be likely to react.  Does the program provide reasonable incentives to help individuals progress.  Does it follow the ancient saying “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day.  Teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.”  Or does the program trap people into a life of continuing government support?

We also believe programs should include provisions for monitoring and enforcing accountability.  It should include reasonable and enforceable consequences for those who take advantage of the government’s largess. The Democrats’ view of human beings is much kinder.  They have little concern about people taking advantage of such programs and tend to think of consequences as demeaning and unnecessary

This difference allows liberals to portray Republicans as mean-spirited.   I experienced this firsthand when a Democrat legislative colleague once said to me, she’d like to meet my children.  When I asked why, she replied that if they were like me, the world was in trouble.  She reached this conclusion because we Republicans oppose costly programs that we believe will ultimately fail and will often cause harm.  She, on the other hand, believed these programs to be essential, and to vote against such help is inexcusable.     

We get accused of “caring only about money.”  We do care about taxpayer money.  But we possess another level of caring.  We care about the effect that a permanent reliance on government hand-outs will have on the recipients. We care about government dehumanizing people by trapping them into dependency by structuring programs without any incentive to escape.

Human nature drives us to find satisfaction in personal achievements. Accomplishments, big or small, are essential to our sense of dignity. For example, you really cannot give children a sense of achievement by simply handing out participation trophies.  Children quickly recognize who performed better and eventually grow cynical when adults pretend there are no winners or losers in a game—because the kids always keep score.

The reality of human beings is that we get pleasure from doing something well, ourselves.  Indeed, individual achievements, big or small, are critical to our sense of personal dignity. For example, you really cannot give children a sense of achievement by giving them trophies for participation.  Children quickly understand who performs better and eventually gtrow cynical when adults pretend no one “won or lost” a game  just because they didn’t keep score.  The kids did!

Offering encouragement and praise is important, but it’s far more meaningful when tied to a real achievement—no matter how small.  For example, acknowledging a McDonald’s clerk for exceptional service can have a significant impact.   And if a child or an adult is proud of an accomplishment, your praise reinforces their sense of value.

Due to their core belief in government-led solutions, Democrat problem-solving inevitably results in government growth.  As government gets bigger and bigger, Republicans see these ever-multiplying laws and regulations as creating more and more restrictions on individual decision making. 

After 250 years of government growth impacting the ability of individuals to solve their own problems, the gap between the two approaches looks more like the Grand Canyon than a ditch.  There is very little room for the two sides to agree on anything – so they don’t.


Trent Kittleman
3000 Kittleman Lane. *. West Friendship, MD 21794
301-661-3344. *. trentkittleman@verizon.net