Partisan idealogy rewards puppets, not heroes
The words “courage,” “freedom” and “independence” have long been meaningful to all Americans, especially Texans. Courage, as well as independent thought and judgment, are the stuff our heroes are made of. We remember the brave men and women who risked all and forged ahead regardless of danger to make Texas and the U.S. the successes envied worldwide.
Unfortunately, those vaunted ideals seem out of vogue now — or, at least, they do not apply to many members of Congress.
This week — in the days between Texas Independence
Day and the 187th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo — the Republican Party of Texas struck a blow against independence. They censured U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales because he had the courage and fortitude to put patriotism over party and to represent his constituents’ interests when he voted on everything from border issues and gun control to marriage equality and House rules.
Gonzales represents the sprawling Congressional District 23, which stretches from San Antonio to the outskirts of El Paso. It’s a district I represented as a Democrat from 2013 to 2015.
Political parties expect individuals to follow in lockstep, even though fewer people these days identify completely with either party. Many people only “lean” in one direction or another.
Our current system rewards puppets; those who parrot the talking points and never stray are applauded and rewarded with uncontested elections.
Vastly outnumbered are the statesmen and women, the heroes who can admit that their party is occasionally wrong and bring people together to solve problems.
To the average citizen, Congress doesn’t do much but argue. Strict partisan ideology and harsh party discipline force members to veer right or veer left. Gerrymandered districts with foregone election results disincentivize voters, thus incentivizing campaigns to rely on fear and divisive “red meat” issues to bring voters to the polls.
Each year, Congress debates the same issues over and over. They have been debating immigration reform for decades. The problems only get worse. If they were solved, the “red meat” might go away.
Gonzales attempted to represent the majority of his constituency. He showed courage in suggesting solutions the average small businessman or woman — and certainly the average resident of the border area he represents — could support. For that, he was punished. And the Texas GOP will now spend time, money, and effort looking for a new candidate who won’t think on his or her own.
The irony of their timing might be lost on the Texas
GOP. As Texans celebrated the political courage of our forebears in the fight for Texas’ independence, they punished the courageous actions of one of their own.
I continue to hold out hope that our two-party system will never fully quash independent thought. Both major political parties would be wise to remember the words of Nobel Prize winner Bertrand Russell: “Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed.”
If straight partisanship wins, we all lose.
Pete Gallego represented far West Texas in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 to 2013, and U.S. Congress from 2013 to 2015 as a Democrat. He also served as president of Sul Ross State University.