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The following opinion article represents the views and opinions of the author alone, and not necessarily those of Westwood Minute.
By John Aram, Contributor
Just as no political figure can stand outside of the debate over the validity of the 2020 Presidential election and no institution is immune from getting entangled in today’s politicalized environment, no community will remain unaffected if today’s political divisions continue their current trajectory. I argue that opposing political forces today are on a collision course which puts at risk the wellbeing of communities such as Westwood. And yet I believe that local coalitions working on community issues allow us to transcend our political differences, serving as an alternative to debilitating political conflict.
Several recent events show two forces hurtling toward each other. The F.B.I. raid on the ex-President Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago on August 8 illustrates one of the influences at play. From this observers’ viewpoint, the F.B.I. did what it is supposed to do, namely enforce Federal law and investigate potential criminal activities. While no institution is error-free, on the face of what has been reported the raid appears to have fulfilled requirements for professionalism, strict adherence to rigorous protocols, and independence from political influence.
Because of Mr. Trump’s status as a former President and due to his enormous popularity within the Republican Party, the Justice Department likely knew the raid would be highly controversial and it would be bitterly criticized. As such, the raid represents a belief about doing the right thing, in this case fulfilling an obligation to defend the Constitution and be guided solely by the law.
Within this belief system, democratic institutions—the judiciary, all components of law enforcement, the electoral system, a professional bureaucracy, elected representatives at all levels of government—depend on individuals placing their oath of office above political expediency.
Opposing this force is a view that our public institutions are corrupt and controlled by elite insiders who make decisions to their own benefit. People endorsing this belief often argue that the entire system needs to be overthrown and rebuilt from scratch. Distrust of established government among members of this persuasion is high, often leading them to believe the presidential election of 2020 was stolen by Democrats, or government vaccine mandates violate Constitutional freedom, or that the right to bear arms is vital to defend against imminent government tyranny.
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The first test of how these opposing forces conflict will come in this fall’s elections. That election, and even more so the presidential elections two years later, will tell us a great deal about whether our historical governmental structures will persist or be seriously impaired. There is also a high risk, in my view, of political paralysis in which one or both major parties challenge election outcomes in various states, leading to seemingly endless litigation, uncertain election outcomes, rising public frustration, and potential violence.
At the local level, these national forces act as a strong undertow, diminishing civility by forcing families, neighborhoods, and towns to choose sides. To individuals, belief systems come pre-packaged, and the only question is, “which side are you on?” Events, such as the F.B.I. raid, become tests of partisan loyalty. Yet, a hostile contest between opposing clans is not good for the health of the individuals or their communities.
If resistance to the undertow of our national politics is possible, local communities will play a significant role. One key may lie in building coalitions across the community to address common problems, such as education, economic development, mental health, hunger, alternative energy, or drug addiction, where individuals are asked to put ideology aside and join forces to solve common problems.
As an example, Shape Up Somerville (SUS) was a local program between 2002-2004 to address the 46% of early elementary students in the public schools who were overweight or at risk of becoming so.[i] Based on research and leadership at Tufts University and with initial funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, collaboration was organized between citizen-based non-profit organizations disseminating information, local restaurants introducing healthy menus, local food providers donating fresh produce, and the School District enhancing the quality and quantity of food served.
Over two years, the program significantly reduced the body mass index of Somerville’s young children, and it has since been incorporated into the city’s Division of Health and Human Services as the Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities. With respect to political divisions, the program Director, Lisa Robinson, attests, “It is possible for residents who may disagree strongly on other issues to come together to work on a common challenge for everyone’s benefit.”
The Somerville project is an example of the potential for sidelining political differences in order to work on a common problem. In Westwood, the Interfaith Walk for Hunger, Eddies Food Drive, and Westwood Community Chest, among others, may function to strengthen the community and transcend political differences. Adopted widely, such local actions, might change the national political conversation, and, if we are lucky, set our society on a more constructive path.
[i] https://intersector.com/case/shapeupsomerville_massachusetts/
Thanks to John Aram, a retired professor of management policy, and a recent resident of Westwood, for contributing this opinion to Westwood Minute.
Westwood Minute takes no position on the opinion articles that it publishes, but seeks accurate and thoughtful commentary on topics that matter to our community, from a variety of differing viewpoints. Feel free to reply with your reaction below, or submit another perspective to WestwoodInAMinute@gmail.com.
