POLITICAL COURAGE

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QUESTION
Among many things, politics in the US has very high stakes. This fact owes to the place of politics in the US society in terms of the fundamentals and the role it plays in shaping the economy and preserving the status quo of the US as a superpower. Additionally, politics remains to be an important fabric that defines the many states in the US in terms of their orientation, and conviction among the key things such as healthcare, immigration, national security, abortion, the nature of the government, and the modus operandi of the serving government in foreign relations. Given this nature of American society, conformity to the party is highly evident if one is to prosper politically. However, there are leaders (serving in various capacities) who have in time past exhibited acts of political ebullience thus shaping the nature of the society in some given way. Johnson (2017) asserts that any act of political courage must be properly calculated with highly thought out risk-taking ventures where a leader leaves his realities into the public eye and chooses a disruptive decision for the wellbeing of the greater majority of people. Drawing from President John F Kennedy’s “Political Courage” book, standing for a less popular position in the US is among the most difficult things but the result is more appreciated in the long run.
After the 9/11 attack on the US soil, numerous political readjustments were cooking in many political kitchens in the US. One of the most sensitive issues touched on civil liberties. In 2001, Senator Russ Feingold solely voted against the Patriotic Act 2001 (Brendix and Paul, pp. 447-469). Such a bold move, given the high probability of leaders of such caliber voting along party lines or in line with some orientation, is not common. According to (Friedersdorf, 2013), this milestone decision which negatively impacted on the senator’s political goodwill came in at a time when there was a chronic threat of attacks by terrorists on US soil which imposed potential catastrophic harm to the citizenry thus imposing serious headache to the various leaders and the policymakers.
While arguing out his stance, Senator Russ Feingold maintained that civil liberties were among the pillars of the US since its formation (when independence was declared in 1776). Acting upon his conviction, he remained true to his principles propounding that while it was prudent for the government through the relevant authorities to prevent terrorist attacks before they occurred, it was morally and constitutionally wrong to apprehend and punish suspected people in any terrorism claims given the high-level secrecy with which issues on intelligence are executed (Evink, pp. 473-505). This claim revealed an impending danger if the Act of Parliament was passed. Moreover, Senator Russ Feingold made strong points which were disregarded by the congress. Brendix and Paul (pp. 447-469) report that while senators debated the National Security Laws (NSLs), did not properly regard important issues, exhibited a low understanding of security laws, did not collect the required policy information, as well as failure in rightly revealing how the concerned authorities (FBI, CIA) handled the collected information on certain people.
Given the nature of the nation then, conventional wisdom dictated that one would vote (with or without an incentive to win) in favor of the bill that was on the floor of the Congress. Any median voter supported such a move (Friedersdorf, 2013). However, on the contrary, Senator Russ Feingold made a rather unpopular move in objecting to this bill with the public interest at heart. While acting in the best interest of the great majority of US citizens (who were impulsive regarding the bill), Senator Russ Feingold cautioned the house to act in absolute regard of the constitution which aims at protecting the common citizens’ civil liberties. The Patriotic Act 2001 would weaken people’s long-cherished freedom which they sought to destroy (by being myopic in their considerations).  As a result of his stance on the matter, the civil liberties proponent senator was replaced by a Tea Party senator by the Wisconsin voters who did not regard his position as truly utilitarian.
Additionally, Senator Russ Feingold cared about the imminent mistreatment of minority communities of majorly Arab origin, Muslim Americans, South Asians, among others who were more likely to be victimized given the high emotions involved in the issue of security. At that time, just a day after the attack there already was evidence of misguided anger against these groups of people. In the long run, Samari et al (e1-19) as well as Selod (2018) report increased racialized surveillance on Muslim Americans, Islamophobia, and religious microaggressions resulting from the breach of civil liberties and painting some communities as dangerous within the society. The stance taken by Senator Russ Feingold has helped formulate policies aimed at preventing the racial profiling of Muslim Americans and Arabs in a bid to prevent terror attacks.
As of 2009, Friedersdorf, (2013) reported that the critical information on how the law was being applied had not been revealed to the public. Coupled with the reported misuse of Section 215 of the law, and the Edward Snowden’s leaked information, it is evident that government authorities have severally breached people’s privacy and civil liberty which is accorded them in the constitution. All along, this is what Senator Russ Feingold argued against in a bid to safeguard the civil liberties not only of the Wisconsin electorate but the entire American populace.
Summarily, Senator Russ Feingold’s deliberate position to vote against The Patriotic Act 2001 bill can be considered as a politically courageous move. Despite the imminent danger of being recalled by the Wisconsin Voters and drastic reduction in his popularity, he argued against some important aspects of the bill that were then disregarded by the Senate which can only be confirmed today as a very bold move to safeguard the civil liberties of virtually every American. Given a proper view of the bigger picture back then, I am convinced most Americans would take his stance.
 

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