Jan 21, 2018 5 min read

The greatest threats to democracy are comfort and apathy.

T. Rafael Cimino, “A Battle of Angels”

We are three weeks into an epic election year. At the top of the card, we have the election of a governor, lieutenant governor and a U.S. senator. In Washington County, we will hold special elections in the 18th Congressional District and in the 48th Legislative District, and regular primary and general elections for all state representatives and a state senator.

Political ads are already appearing in broadcast and social media, and in our mailboxes. They will do nothing but intensify between now and November. While the details of the ads will be many and varied, this year’s elections will divide themselves exactly the way our nation is divided.

The most basic divide is how people see the role of the government in their lives. Do they see the government as responsible for, and therefore controlling, their lives and their well-being? Or do they see themselves as controlling the government, and therefore being responsible for themselves and their own lives? How people answer these questions determines, in large measure, their view of economic, foreign and military policies and social issues.

The differences are stark and, in the eyes of large portions of the electorate, becoming existential to both the nation and their own lives.

The left, in general, favors a larger government and extensive government involvement to control the lives of citizens. They believe that it is the duty of the government to provide for every need of its citizens, and to solve people’s problems. It is the government’s responsibility to respond to community desires. Decisions are based on group desires rather than an individual’s constitutional rights. No individual is entitled to profit from his or her efforts since that comes, by their definition, at the expense of other members of the community.

They believe in high taxes to finance hugely expensive social programs, and believe that the government knows how to deploy capital better than individuals do. The left generally takes a more globalist view of international relations, which translates to less defense spending and more liberal trade and immigration policies.

The right, in general, favors smaller government and more personal responsibility. It favors free markets, individual liberties, traditional American values, secure borders and a strong national defense. They generally believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom to pursue and achieve their own goals, and to see their efforts rewarded. They believe in strict adherence to the Constitution as written, and to the rule of law. They do not believe judges can or should legislate from the bench. They believe in low taxes, because private individuals will more efficiently deploy capital in the economy than the government.

How these ideas will play out is already apparent at many levels.

In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Tom Wolf has demonstrated he is a rabid proponent of government regulation and its involvement in all facets of a citizen’s life. He has promoted laws to over-regulate nursing homes, gas drilling, mining, professional trades, almost everything one can imagine. He has frequently proposed tax increases. He has signed one budget in three years. He has promoted social service expansion and increased the size of government. The Republicans lining up to run against him are all promoting smaller government, lower taxes, reasonable regulation, conservative judicial appointments and balanced budgets.

Bob Casey must run on a record of invisibility, modest achievement and support of liberal legislation in the U.S. Senate race. His apparent opponent will be a clear conservative whose record solidly supports the values of the right. This will be a race of absolute contrasts – Casey supporting President Obama’s failed policies or probable Republican nominee, U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, supporting Trump’s successful policies.

In the 18th district race, we will see Democrat Conor Lamb, a political newcomer with no experience, compete against an experienced legislator in Rick Saccone. Saccone is a conservative state representative with a legislative record and endorsements to back up his positions. Lamb is apparently attempting to play a moderate, because he knows that the radical left posture of the current Democratic Party is a loser in this district. He can say he will buck the leadership, but in the end, if by some chance he were elected, he will end up voting the established Democratic anti-business line because he will be told to.

The big divide will remain, and voters will either choose to continue prosperity with Saccone or to drive businesses out of the district with Lamb.

In state legislative races, reliably conservative John Maher will continue his tenure in the 40th Legislative District. In the 48th Legislative District, a special election will pit a young, inexperienced and liberal Democrat against a Republican yet to be selected. The Democrat, Clark Mitchell, Jr., has already staked out traditional Democratic positions appealing to unions and is a liberal on social issues. Whoever the Republican candidate is, given the field, will assuredly espouse solidly conservative positions.

There will be little gray area this year. The choice will not be nuanced. It will be clearly one or the other in this election. Do you believe that we, the people, control government, or that the government controls us? Do you believe that we are responsible for our success or failure, or is that the government’s job? Do our Constitution and our laws determine how our society is governed, or do judges decide from the bench? Do we control what we earn, or do we turn it over to the government because it knows better how to use it? Shall our borders be secure, and our nation remain strong, or do we gut our military and open our borders (and our job market) to all comers?

It’s up to us to overcome comfort and apathy. Go out and vote.