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Published in the The Herald 1/15/2006
2005 drew to a politically bumpy close and a new season is starting for 2006, where the congresspersons will face the polls. A new Supreme Court Justice will face hearings amid rhetoric that he is out of the mainstream. In fact wherever you look someone or other is out of the mainstream.
My dictionary defines “mainstream” as harmonizing with the prevalent attitudes and values of a society. From what I can see that “mainstream” is not what is being referred to by the “talking heads”. Perhaps, it is political rhetoric!
It wasn’t that long ago that folks were “dropping out” so as to not be in the “mainstream” or “establishment”; and many of those folks are the very ones clamoring the loudest today.
Just a quick look at the various polls, studies, and recent local and federal elections - in particular the last presidential election would seem to demonstrate an assertion that there is no clear consistent mainstream as it is referred to by the politicians.
Just as when our little group of fiercely independent colonies declared autonomy from England a large part of the residents were opposed but there was a common thread that held them together; a desire for freedom and opportunity for self determination. That is our real “mainstream”.
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