Sometimes, you read something that makes sense of the crazy sensory overload that is life at the end of the twentieth century. A recent article in, of all places, The New York Times, had this effect on me.
The article suggested that we have gone beyond the politics of image, and are now deeply enmeshed in the politics of resonance. To be successful, a politician must empty himself of policies and concrete goals and learn a lot of reassuring platitudes and catchphrases which resonate with truth and integrity. Without those nasty policies, which tend to attract opposition from people they disadvantage, politicians are free to strike emotional chords in voters weary of the crazy sensory overload that is life at the end of the twentieth century.
It’s a very zen approach to politics, really.
And, it explains so much! Former American President Ronald Reagan, who never met a policy he could understand, much less like, resonated with the deepest pitch of any politician in history. His hum was so deep, his approval rating is still up there with Kevin Costner and Arnold Schwarzenegger, even though the October Surprise, the Iran/Contras scandla, the illegal bombing of Tripoli and invasion of Panama, the widening gap between rich and poor, the ballooning deficit, the savings and loan disaster and Cop Rock all happened on his watch.
If it’s really morning in America, why doesn’t somebody wake up and smell the coffee?
A logical extension of this idea would be that when two politicians are in conflict, the one who comes out on top will be the one who best articulates a broad vision without actually referring to specific policies. In short, the politician who resonates more.
Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa is a sublime resonator who has fooled many people into thinking that his only concrete policy is to turn his province, with the possible exceptions of Montreal and parts of Quebec City, into a source of power for New York State. How could Prime Minister Brian Mulroney possibly compete in constitutional negotiations?
Bourassa: “We want to protect the French fact in North America.”
Mulroney: “We want to bring Quebec into the Canadian family.”
Bourassa: “We haven’t gotten enough out of Confederation…”
Mulroney: “We want to be fair to all provinces…”
Bourassa: “All Quebecois have inalienable rights which we refuse to give up in negotiations.”
Mulroney: “Okay, if we rework the Senate and change the division of powers so -“
HONK! You lose, Brian. The country may lose, as well. Still, you’ve got to admire Bourassa’s style.
Of course, the Prime Minister was getting a great education in the politics of resonance. He had been given an opportunity to study with the American master during the US/Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
Reagan: “Free trade is a win/win situation.”
Mulroney: “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”
Reagan: “We need a level playing field.”
Mulroney: “We need freedom from harassment.”
Reagan: “We must stop unfair government practices which shackle business.”
Mulroney: “Speaking of unfair practices, the definition of a subsidy should be -“
HONK! You lose again, Brian. One would think you would learn.
This is not to say that the Prime Minister offers a wealth of well-considered policies; his basso profundo resonated him into two successive Progressive Conservative majorities, after all. It’s just that, as the politics of resonance have spread, competition has intensified, and a basso profundo doesn’t take one as far as it used to.
Mulroney should expect stiff competition from Liberal Leader Jean Chretien (who hasn’t had a policy to offer since his days in Trudeau’s cabinet), New Democratic Party Leader Audrey Mclaughlin (who hasn’t so much resonated as absented herself from the political arena – which may, perhaps, be the logical end of resonance politics) and Reform Party Leader Preston Manning (who is resonating on the same frequency of voter discontent as Mulroney did when he won his first majority).
This suggests that the politics of resonance can have a predictive as well as diagnostic function. To use an obvious example, according to the theory of political resonance, who is likely to win the upcoming Presidential race between George Bush and Bill Clinton?
Bush: “Stay the course.”
Clinton: “Throw the rascals out!”
Bush: “Thousand points of light.”
Clinton: “Uncaring government of the rich.”
Bush: “Give government back to the people.”
Clinton: “What? Your government has cut back on social services and – oh, damn!”
HONK! Was there any doubt?