Cynicism is plaguing the Democratic party, and if there is any hope to continue to advance at all, whether that be in a future Trumpian or Democratic era, a quarantine and extermination is necessary. Cynicism, both personal and organizational, have been shown to hinder progress and productivity. In such a negatively polarized environment, any further obstacles to agreements between the parties, even an intra-partisan one, will not present any long term benefits.
Donald Trump, since before his election in 2016, has instilled dread in almost every Democrat. This dread, as the years have passed, has devolved into something in the realm of cynicism and exasperation. Every new fragmented, disillusioned tweet that seems to somehow serve as a frenzying rally call to MAGA-cap bearing individuals, to Democrats is a frenzying — but in the entirely antithetical sense — gut-punch.
After almost four years of gut-punches with some small breaths of relief — the “blue wave” of November 2018 elections, for example — cynicism seems like the only possibility for the future. But it is not.
Unlike a racehorse with blinders, focusing on finishing the race at all costs, Democrats need to stop in their tracks, push the Republican jockey off their backs, and look around to notice any hope and optimism they are ignoring. Every grain or dust-bunny of non-cynicism — not even necessarily optimism — give Democrats opportunities to tear away from living in a constant state of predictable reactivity to Trump’s precipitousness and Republicans’ remorselessness.
Pelosi’s actions during the State of the Union address epitomize my point, for she acted in an equivalent manner to Trump. In response to Trump not shaking her hand, Pelosi did not embellish his introduction, as is customary of the Speaker of the House. And in response to Trump’s dramaticized claims and misleading numbers, she showed physical, blatant disapprobation, stripping away a layer of ceremoniousness normally involved in the State of the Union. Finally, Pelosi ripping his speech so that everyone nation-wide could see her condemnation, in turn, ripped away decorum and any kind of hope to co-legislate in yet another unprecedented way.
Now, my disapproval of her actions is not a vilification, and I am not ignoring that I also felt a repugnance towards the GOP — Trump and his bent truth, and members yelling as if they were at a rally — while watching the address, but my point is that demonstrating hatred in the way Pelosi did so dangerously mirrors the hostility that Trump and his party have and always will exhibit.
Moreover, albeit a strong demonstration of protest, gaining major headlines and mustering Democratic excitement, I propose that Pelosi’s actions will not do well for the party in the long term. Rallying calls with likely fade with time, as even more outragerous headlines make their way to the front pages of major newspapers.
Trump will always force-feed the cycle of cynicism farce and starve it of fact. Democrats, therefore, must do the opposite, and replenish the famished with truth and hope, and yes, optimism. While Pelosi empowered today’s Democratic frondeurs, she also gave them much fodder for cynicism, which will likely be pernicious to the party in the future if it hopes to seize opportunities for progress and maybe even win in 2020. With cynicism staining all the Democrats do, no results will come out clean enough to be acceptable or presentable.
Democrats need to break away and give up. Not give up in the cynical sense of an ultimate renouncement, but the relinquishing their desires for vengeance or any goal of vendetta or pettiness that Trump clearly shows himself as being after.
The Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, said before Trump’s election, “When they go low, we go high,” and, here, before Trump’s potential reelection, the democrats, in terms of conduct, beliefs, and behavior, must go high.
