With all the powerful thinkers and theorists that Josh Levy cited ("In defense of partisanship," Jan. 21) it is surprising that he would only pick on Sen. Obama rather than the two party system or American politics in general. Levy fails to distinguish the politics of agonism -- of struggle and competition, with the politics of antagonism -- of hatred and negation.Because what I think Senator Obama means by "post-partisanship" is a politics where petty differences are ignored and where ideology is crowded out by pragmatism.But how can one argue for a politics beyond partisanship when one is by definition a partisan, an ideologue, a Democrat?
Our two-party system does not inspire a rhetorical struggle or intelligent discourse. Instead it breeds bumper-sticker slogan exchange and animosity towards difference.If Democrats are for a "bigger government," then Republicans are for a "smaller one." If Democrats are for "lower military spending," Republicans are for "higher," and if Democrats want "more taxes" Republicans want "less." Our two party politics is simply a trading of negatives, a tragic and pointless antagonism, a paralyzing dichotomy -- each side like a warring tribe entrenched in their ways and constantly recruiting fresh citizens to join the "struggle."In the marketplace of our ideas, to borrow Levy's metaphor, the two party system is like a giant corporate duopoly crowding out other voices and choices.
But it seems that Sen. Obama and Levy were partially right: We should move past our slight differences but also keep intact the competitive element of our democracy. What they both fail to acknowledge is that this can only be done once more parties and more factions are able to enter into the political scene.
Citizens, like consumers, are best served when their politicians have to fiercely compete with one another, not just by simply negating another ideology but by struggling to compete with several affirmed and respected opponents.With this type of competition, this agonism, our public servants will become better, stronger, and more noble.As they say, the lion gave the gazelle her speed.
Hamza Shaban
CLAS III
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