Policy is always Personal
There are few things that are as difficult for a parent than to have a conversation with their child and hear hurt and fear in their voice. This happened to me this week and it has put me on a path of introspection.
There has been a very real change in policy as Trump issues his Executive Orders and the impact of his policies come into focus. His rhetoric is the typical bombastic declarations. To him (and many), the world is black and white. Either magnificent or a disaster. Change (at least as he states it) is either massive or nonexistent. Over time his policies have generally moderated, but the initial impact is fraught with extremism and uncertainty.
I have always wondered how people can be so absolutely sure of their own beliefs in a world that (to me) is filled with much haze and gray. Particularly in how we treat each other, how we accept or reject those different from ourselves, the establishment of mental stark lines of demarcation is…well, divisive.
I am reminded of a sign I once saw out front of a church. It said, “You can be sure that you’ve made God in your image if he hates all the same people you do.” Sadly, this seems to describe much of our societal relationships, regardless of where you stand.
I am a moderate conservative (actually more of a libertarian). I believe in limited government interference in our individual lives. This does not just apply to minimizing bureaucratic regulations; it includes the entire range of “personal” choice we should be free to make.
Although I have approved of many policy changes now taking place, I also deeply disagree with others. I have studied, taught, and practiced public policy throughout my adult life. I can generally discuss these dispassionately. I usually “get” that there are two sides to every issue. The lyrics of a Dave Mason song resonate, “There ain’t no good guy, there ain’t no bad guy; There’s only you and me and we just disagree.” This is not how we treat each other today.
The conversation with my daughter wandered into politics (always a dangerous topic with almost anyone). As the discussion evolved, I could hear the emotion in her voice. Finally, she stated, “Dad, to you it’s policy; to me it is personal.” It hit like a lightning bolt. She was right.
My daughter is gay. She is married to a wonderful partner. I love them and support them in every way and believe in their rights to be who they are. She is exceptionally talented, a physician about to enter active duty with the Navy. She will be cross assigned to a Marine unit. She is full of trepidation given the harsh rhetoric now being bantered about. Any organization would be blessed to have her. And yet, she is concerned that her service may be marked by intolerance if not outright hostility. I would like to think that is a wild exaggeration, but I have my doubts.
This is not new to me. I was in the last “all male class” at West Point. The integration of women was traumatic and ill-planned. I did not initially think this was a good thing for the institution or the military.
When I came back to teach a decade later, the integration of women in the Corps was well established. I came to the realization (which should have been obvious) that there were outstanding women leaders as well as duds. This was no different with the men. I would far rather serve with a competent woman (or any person for that matter) than an incompetent man.
Regardless, the process has been difficult. The same thing was true with the racial integration of the military in 1948. Similar arguments were used about degrading capability and morale. They are resurgent in the case of gays serving in the military. They will similarly be proven wrong. The defense of democracy is too important to arbitrarily reject those willing to serve based on some superficial characteristic.
I think it is critical to make a distinction between “policy” and “implementation” of that policy. I agree with the inherent meaning of DEI. “Diversity” is embracing the differences (race, ethnicity, gender, etc.) everyone brings to the table. “Equity” is treating everyone fairly and providing equal opportunities. And “Inclusion” respects everyone’s voice and encourages the incorporation of input from people of a variety of backgrounds. Hard to argue with the concepts. However, the implementation (particularly within the military) has been disruptive. This does not negate the need for tolerance of individuals regardless of “who” they are.
We should note that the personal effect of political edicts is not confined to one party or the other. I was personally impacted by the policies of the Obama administration. I am in real estate, and I once said that, “Obama declared war on all of my tenants.”
Their energy policy shattered the coal industry. It had a devastating effect on countless individuals in our region who lost their livelihood. I had an energy company headquarters in one of my buildings. In the aftermath, they contracted to a third of their original space. Similarly, one physician group lost half of their revenue on a procedure overnight because the reimbursement from Medicare was chopped. Both (and others) had a significant negative economic impact (on me personally). I lost a substantial amount of rent (and it never really recovered-you don’t bring coal-fired power plants back online after they have been shuttered).
Every policy (and change of policy) impacts not just the broader domain. On net they may be good (or bad). However, the world is composed of individuals. Every policy filters down to someone. The impact may be positive, but in any given case, it is likely to be negative for others. Much like a bloody battle, it is the “Butcher’s Bill” we pay for our politician’s’ decisions.
I pray that our country will find a way to accept and rejoice in our differences rather than use them as the basis of discord and hate. I will trust in God’s grace, but he does not intend for us to remain passive. It is incumbent on us all to be intentional in how we treat each other. We are not some amorphous groupings, we are individuals, each worthy in God’s eyes.
