Politics and The Pendulum

Steffen Schmidt

It’s important to remember that time continues for humans and things change as time passes.

If you look at the arc of history you’ll immediately realize that every political reality has only lasted so long.

Empires have risen but then eventually fallen. That’s true going as far back as we have information. The “Third Reich” never really materialized but in any case, collapsed very quickly.

I lived in Iowa for over fifty years. Republicans were a minority for part of that time. Tom Harkin was Senator and in many rankings was deemed the most liberal Senator. Governors and at least half of house members were Democrats.

My Republican friends and colleagues were depressed and anxious that moderate to liberals and Democrats were strong and hard to beat.

Fast forward to 2025. It’s now Democrats and liberals are now the out party. Republicans surged and now are the overwhelming majority with Senator Grassley and until this year, Joni Ernst prominent, all four House seats in the hands of the GOP as has the Governorship, the state legislature, and local government.

In political science we refer to this drama ting transformation as “the political pendulum swinging back.

In my opinion this is an “Iron law”. For all of history the pendulum has ALWAYS swung back. I understand that conservatives and Republicans are certain that the current Conservative trend is permanent; is destiny.

In my humble opinion they’re wrong. Change ALWAYS happens. The pendulum wins.