COMMENTARY
The solutions to our nation’s and our community’s problems will not be found by subtracting voices and dividing groups. Such tactics only lead to myopia. Rather, progress will come by adding to the discussion varying perspectives, thus multiplying energy and creativity. It is time even the most partisan zealots realize that in the realm of real-world politics two minus one equals, not one, but always some negative number, while one plus one adds up to a much larger sum multiplied by the power of synergy.
MARK SCHUMANN
How do you describe a discussion in which all the participants think alike? Boring. Even worse, unenlightening, uninspiring and unproductive, a cyclone of hot air.
When local Republicans hold their so-called candidate forums, they only want hear from fellow Republicans. No independent thinkers, and certainly no Democrats, are allowed to participate, not even in forums held for non-partisan races, such as the coming Vero Beach City Council election.
Recently, I was told the members of the Indian River County Republican executive committee must pledge to support only Republican candidates, even if one candidate, registered as an Independent, has a stellar background and business reputation, while his opponent, a Republican, is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. This was certainly the case in the 2012 Indian River County Commission race between Independent Tony Denadio and Republican Tim Zorc.
I have often wondered why the crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus in that fateful election held at the feet of Pontius Pilate. Now I think I get it. Barabbas must have been a card-carrying member of the dominant political party. This may sound flippant, even sacrilegious, but I do believe that if Jesus ran as a Democrat, or even as an Independent, he could not win election in Indian River County. Turn the tables, and the same would probably be true in a Democratic stronghold.
Certainly, if Jesus ran as and Independent in Indian River County he could not expect support from the Republican executive committee. He would not even be allowed to participate in their forums, forums that are supposedly held to enable voters to learn where candidates stand on the issues. In Indian River County, it would be Barabbas by a landslide.
If Republicans, or Democrats, think their party alone has all the answers, they are sorely mistaken. They don’t even have all the right questions. And if the leaders of either party believe the wheels of government would run smoothly, if only their party could monopolize the political landscape, they are terribly misguided. To be sure, one-party rule did not serve well the people of the former Soviet Union.
Petty partisanship and blind allegiance to political ideology only serve to poison public discourse. Ultimately, such divisiveness weakens our society. America’s renewal, the restoration of our economic strength and moral fiber, will never be realized if we follow those who only know how to subtract and divide.
If we are ever to make it out of the depths of the political malaise we are in, we must learn how to draw strength and inspiration from each other, even and especially from those who see the pressing issues of our time from another perspective and who can offer ideas different from our own about how to move the country forward.
The solutions to our nation’s and our community’s problems will not be found by subtracting voices and dividing groups. Such tactics only lead to myopia. Rather, progress will come by adding to the discussion varying perspectives, thus multiplying energy and creativity. It is time even the most partisan zealots realize that in the realm of real-world politics two minus one equals, not one, but always some negative number, while one plus one adds up to a much larger sum multiplied by the power of synergy.
Let’s hope that if the local Republican party holds a forum for Vero Beach City Council candidates they will invite all candidates. Meaningful, constructive dialogue cannot take place in an echo chamber.
Indian River Guardian 
If Jesus ran as a Democrat, he would be assaulted for his liberal philosophy. Republicans would cower in fear that he would throw out all the money changers at the Temple.
Republicans, Democrats and Independents seeking political power need to expand their horizons and escape the echo chamber by having frank conversations with our religious leaders.
Here are some ideas to consider:
1) I recently had the priviledge of having a discussion with Rabbi Birholz of Temple Beth Shalom and learned that it is a tenet of the Jewish faith that we all have an obligation to protect the planet. This is apparently something that our political leaders could benefit from learning.
2) Recently Pope Francis said “Environmental degradation is the sin of our times.”
It is precisely because politics has become an echo chamber that there is siuch a low voter turnout. The apathy of the governed will only be overcome if the echo chamber no longer exists.
You are so right, in my opinion. Fifty years ago I registered as a Republican. While there have been and still are times when I’m ready to chuck membership in that party, it all comes down to one thing: If I want to vote for a candidate who is NOT a registered Republican, I will do so. Nobody is going to tell me I HAVE to support someone who, in my humble opinion, has the brains of a paramecium. If voting for this protozoan is the only way to remain a member of the IRCREC, then I’d burn my party membership card. This is not some childish game – selecting candidates and voting for those who we believe will serve us all the best. But that is what it sometimes feels like to us “little folks” in the community who just want to be a part of an area that’s been lovingly maintained as a type of garden of Eden. No high rises (with an exception or two) and plenty of access to the beaches; some pretty decent folks; and lots of places to worship or meditate. In order for us to make good choices, we deserve to have ALL the candidates in forums. Of course, I’m not a member of any political party’s executive committee. Freedom to speak; freedom to vote as we choose; freedom of choice in other ways. It’s the American way.
Dear Mark, I think it took a lot of “Hutzpah” to write this article and I am “livid”! How dare you cross the Republican lines and be candid in accurately describing their local operations. Indian River County is certainly a voting “enigma” and I have come to the conclusion that both parties presently fear the truth, both are dysfunctional and neither focus on doing the right things. It is easier to socialize internally and support the party members than those running for public office! It is time to focus on the reality of truth and which candidate is best for the community and not for the party. I have decided to support the Democratic hopeful for Congress, I am not sure if that is the Man or the Woman, and I will again support the unpopular Brian Heady for a seat on the City Council. As President Roosevelt stated after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”! So I now ask, why are these local parties so important, they both have more “spin” than a Yo Yo and no common sense on how to rally the voters or win an election!