We have the Founders to thank for that.
As I left church this morning, after witnessing the baptism of a dozen fellow believers, I thought of the role the church’s lobby would play in less than 48 hours as thousands of Fox Valley voters would converge on this location to cast their ballots. I found myself not caring all that much about what the outcome will be. There are certainly outcomes I’d prefer — candidates with whom I would more closely align and whose prescriptions border the reasonable — but it’s not in my hands, nor should it be. Sure, I’ll vote in some races and leave other bubbles blank and signal that only citizens should vote. But that’s it. There’s no honor in partisan release. The demand for a leader has been a venial undertaking since the prophet Samuel. Nonetheless, the cacophony of individual votes (hopes, wishes, fears, hatreds) will be refined and interpreted. Then, it’s time to lace up the athwart cleats, take an Ed Hochuli pose, and abide.
There’s little reason to believe that this election is special, let alone “the most important” one. The claim is a canard we convince ourselves of when it comes time to vote because we’ve been involuntarily exposed to the human condition for months and have to admit in our heart of hearts that our leaders are variants of wastrels, recreants, and scumbags but we will nonetheless pull the lever for them. Before you accuse me of being some “s’all good” beatnik type, recall that my peers and I are looking down the barrel of paying for all of you to age. Really, the long view is all we have after Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid break our paychecks’ kneecaps every fortnight. Neither Trump nor Harris has anything of substance to say about the federal executive’s three responsibilities — providing defense, ensuring that Congress doesn’t pauperize us any faster than it is already, and overseeing the equal and disinterested enforcement of the law — so it’s a wash there, especially with both candidates’ proving time and again that they’re incapable of retaining talent that might permanently move the needle for good or ill.
What does matter is the Senate and House, but one can only vote in one county, in one district, in one state — even the mythic mortuary voting bloc of Chicago has only so much influence. The Republicans look to have a real shot at winning back the Senate, and putting that chamber back in the testudine clutches of Mitch’s successor would be enough to consider 2024 a victory. Industrious inactivity is the best activity.
The conservative’s role is one of a junior gardener left to tend an estate. It is not his job to renovate the kitchens or sweep soot from the chimneys — his job is simply to protect the garden from devouring elements of itself or overrunning the bounds of the beds. Guests come and go, demanding rearrangements, reinterpretations, and the like, and it’s our job to politely smile and explain that, no, the design is right and good and that we maintain the property for the enjoyment of all rather than the idle (or malevolent) amusement of any one party. When the dust settles on (hopefully) Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, we’ll look around and take stock of the new balance of power and go from there. There will be losses, what-ifs, and plenty of whining, but life will move along, and we’ll seek out opportunities to protect the verdant liberty while restraining the newest guest and his or or her penchant for attacking the hedges with a pair of shears.
We’re blessed to live in a country where the hard work has already been done and we’ve been left with no obligation other than to keep it as good as we found it. May we endeavor to do so.