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My idealistic views on democracy

In general, I don't write about politics here. Partly because I don't understand them enough to do so. Partly because I think that they are a somewhat private affair. I don't belong to any political party. I try not to tell others who I'm voting for. It's probably the influence of growing up with Baha'i elections, which don't involve any electioneering and are held in a spiritual atmosphere. But I'm breaking my silence, just for a few minutes.

On Tuesday, the day of the election, I was listening to the radio in the car and heard the President saying that he was confident that he would be working with a Republican House and a Republican Senate. I was really disturbed by that, feeling that the President should be above saying something like that. I know, it's my idealistic way of looking at things, but it seems that, even though the President belongs to a particular party, and we all know what that party is, he should be eager to work with anyone, regardless of party, as long as it's for the good of the American public. In fact, it seems that he should favor working with Democrats, because that way both parties are represented, and things are balanced. Isn't that what our system is founded on - checks and balances? I don't think our founding fathers had in mind that all those in power would be of the same leaning, but that the differing opinions would lead to the greatest good. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked on Wednesday morning to see that things are a little more evenly balanced.

"The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions."
-'Abdu'l-Baha