A nation of dittoheads

Americans -- we're tough-minded and independent. We're rugged individualists. We like to blaze our own trail. \nIt would be great if that were true, but it turns out this ideal is a load of crap. For all our supposed independent thinking abilities lately, it seems as though our leaders and political discourse have slowly become slaves to politics itself. Instead of discourse shaping politics, it gets shaped by politics. \nWhat do I mean? More and more, political orientation seems to drive the facts instead of vice versa. I know somewhere on this campus there is a grizzled political science professor who knows this is nothing new and thinks it's just adorable. Some other young idealist has learned to be cynical. But is it worse now? It seems as though we are content to be a nation of opinion-takers instead of opinion-makers.\nThe most recent example can be found in the Sept. 11 hearings. While it was intended to be non-partisan, it is clear Democrats have been asking much harder-hitting questions of Republicans and vice versa. It was a Democrat, Richard Ben-Veniste, who forced Condoleezza Rice to disclose the now infamous title of the Aug. 6, 2001, Presidential Daily Briefing, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." Why did it take a Democrat to force such a disclosure? It was a Republican, the former governor of Illinois, James Thompson, who offered the most harsh questioning of Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism adviser who had openly criticized the Republican president, when he asked, "We have your book, and we have your press briefing of August 2002. Which is true?"\nAll these tough questions are just fine. In fact, they are exactly what is needed to understand the flaws in our security before Sept. 11 and how this country can prevent another such disaster. But why can't members of each party bring themselves to be more critical of their own? \nThis is not the first time politics have shaped reality. In 1999, the Senate voted as to whether or not President Clinton had perjured himself or obstructed justice in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. There is nothing about the crime itself that lends it to a partisan viewpoint. But the vote was almost entirely down party lines, with the exception of a few brave senators who went against their own party. Yet on both sides, senators seemed sincere in their convictions. \nOur political leaders aren't the only ones guilty of groupthink. Society as a whole is hardly blameless on this issue. Does that complicated and lengthy Sept. 11 testimony have you confused? Don't worry, at www.rushlimbaugh.com, Rush can make "the complex understandable." Just sit back and let him do the heavy thinking for you.\nA quick review of some of this country's top-selling books illustrates our sponge-like willingness to absorb opinions. Of the top twenty best-selling non-fiction books on the New York Times best sellers list, eleven are political books from both the left and right. Let Sean Hannity explain how to "Deliver Us from Evil," as he rails against the scourges of terrorism, despotism and, of course, liberalism. Or on the other hand, we can learn about "stupid white men" from Michael Moore. All of these books allow others to shape our own opinion instead of taking control of it ourselves. It's a problem for this country's leaders. It's a problem for the rest of us, too. \nIn the spirit of rising above our own political prejudices, I want to finish by trying to rise above my own. I certainly don't agree with much of what President Bush does, but surely he has some redeeming qualities. Here are just a few things I think are positive aspects of this President … \nWell …\nDamn -- I'm part of the problem!