I remember a time when I could sit and talk politics and religion with people and have good, productive debates. The debates were not hateful or one sided, and only rational personal opinions and actual facts were used during the discussions. They included each person stating their points and making their case, and then each side came to compromises that allowed for solutions that would be good for both parties in the debate.
How did we come to a time in our country's history where we are so vehemently divided on every issue that nothing beneficial to the majority of the American populous or the stability of the country itself can be accomplished? I am going to state some facts in the next paragraphs. They may be facts you don't agree with, but they are facts none-the-less.
Those of you on the Right who believe your party's platform has all of the answers to the issues and problems this country faces...you are wrong. Those of you on the Left who believe your party's platform has all of the answers to the issues and problems this country faces...you are also wrong.
Neither of the major political parties in the United States has all of the answers. In most cases, neither party has the best answer to most issues we face in this country. Why? For a couple of reasons.
The number 1 reason is party affiliation/belief structure. How can one party either on the right or left of center have all of the right answers for the populous of a country that is completely split down the middle politically? It isn't possible. So going with a platform of solutions from the left or the right exclusively will not make this country better, and will continue to pound a solid divide in the country.
Number 2 is the focus of politicians in America (not all but most). Most politicians are focused more on furthering their careers than on looking out for their constituencies. Look at the House of Representatives. Almost immediately after being elected to a seat in the House, members begin campaigning for the next election cycle. Additionally, when many politicians look at their constituents, they aren't looking at the majority of the people who live in their districts. They are looking at the large corporations and special interest groups that are lining the pockets of the politicians and helping them further their careers. It is the inherent nature of politics in America. Those who vote for you become less important to you once you are in office.
The polarization of America has gotten so bad people have been regularly "sanitizing" their social media accounts because they don't want to see the "rhetoric" from those who support the opposing political party. People have lost friends because of politics. Why have we come to this point in America? Why are we at a point where people cannot even talk about politics or religion without fighting?
This boiling point we are reaching as a country didn't start heating up with Trump. It started before Trump took office, but has moved forward with a fever pitch since the new Administration took the reigns and said, "Hold My Beer!" to everyone including the rest of the world.
We have expected Presidents in the past to be, well, Presidential. For the most part we have seen that, but there is something different going on today in Washington under the Trump Administration. A President should be the conduit through which progress is made in our country. A President should work toward bringing both major parties together to work toward common goals that are important to the stability of the country and the betterment of the populous as a whole. A President should be someone the world looks at and respects as the leader of the free world.
Our current President has worked harder at creating a divide between parties than he has at bringing them together. Our current President has begun a campaign of isolationism around the world, pulling out of agreements with allies and instating ridiculous tariffs on other countries while citing national security as a means to instate the tariffs without involving congress. Our current President does not speak words of unity to the world and the people of America; he speaks words of hate to individuals, companies, the opposing party, and the world. Trump has done nothing to bring people together to work toward common goals. He has, in large part, incited the horrible polarization we are seeing in America today.
This country and all citizens in it regardless of political views, deserve better from our leadership. We need a leader who will drive collaboration between parties, who will lift people up instead of denigrate them, who will look out for the best interests of all Americans, and who will ensure a fair and balanced approach is taken when dealing with the issues that affect Americans and people around the globe.
It doesn't have to be one way or the other. There is always another option, but we are not allowed to even consider that other option in today's America. The most concerning thing to me as I sit and observe everything as it happens in every 24 hour news cycle is that an entire party of legislators in Washington who behind closed doors know how horrible this President is with his lies and constant denigration of others, stand lock step with him on almost every damn issue. They don't have the guts to stand up and stand against a President they don't agree with.
We need to get back to a place where debate is used effectively to find compromise. We need to stop the hate and partisan isolationism and get to a place where effective decisions can be made to bring our country out of the hole it is currently in.
Voters and those of voting age who have never voted; this is your year to speak at the ballot box. Don't go out and vote straight ticket Blue or Red. Don't go out and guess for who to vote for. Don't sit at home and choose not to vote when you spend the rest of your time complaining about how crappy things are. Don't be part of the problem. Be part of the solution.
Stand up, educate yourself on the candidates, look at who is in Congress right now and what seats are open in your state. If an incumbent who has held a seat for countless years is up for re-election, and that incumbent has done nothing for his or her constituency, vote the incumbent out and send a message that inaction will not be tolerated. Send that strong message so that those elected this time know that if they cannot show their constituents next election cycle that work has been done, they will also be voted out. More people than ever before need to vote. Show Congress who they work for, and who holds the keys to their careers. We have incumbents who have been in the House and Senate for DECADES. Educate yourselves and be part of the only solution we have at this point.
Remember, we outnumber the legislators by about 320 Million. Let's put our numbers to work at the polls this year and every year thereafter.
Otherwise, I fear where we are headed as a country.
And remember, it doesn't have to be one way or the other; it can be whatever is best for our country and our people. It won't be, however, if we don't act.
DUNK
How did we come to a time in our country's history where we are so vehemently divided on every issue that nothing beneficial to the majority of the American populous or the stability of the country itself can be accomplished? I am going to state some facts in the next paragraphs. They may be facts you don't agree with, but they are facts none-the-less.
Those of you on the Right who believe your party's platform has all of the answers to the issues and problems this country faces...you are wrong. Those of you on the Left who believe your party's platform has all of the answers to the issues and problems this country faces...you are also wrong.
Neither of the major political parties in the United States has all of the answers. In most cases, neither party has the best answer to most issues we face in this country. Why? For a couple of reasons.
The number 1 reason is party affiliation/belief structure. How can one party either on the right or left of center have all of the right answers for the populous of a country that is completely split down the middle politically? It isn't possible. So going with a platform of solutions from the left or the right exclusively will not make this country better, and will continue to pound a solid divide in the country.
Number 2 is the focus of politicians in America (not all but most). Most politicians are focused more on furthering their careers than on looking out for their constituencies. Look at the House of Representatives. Almost immediately after being elected to a seat in the House, members begin campaigning for the next election cycle. Additionally, when many politicians look at their constituents, they aren't looking at the majority of the people who live in their districts. They are looking at the large corporations and special interest groups that are lining the pockets of the politicians and helping them further their careers. It is the inherent nature of politics in America. Those who vote for you become less important to you once you are in office.
The polarization of America has gotten so bad people have been regularly "sanitizing" their social media accounts because they don't want to see the "rhetoric" from those who support the opposing political party. People have lost friends because of politics. Why have we come to this point in America? Why are we at a point where people cannot even talk about politics or religion without fighting?
This boiling point we are reaching as a country didn't start heating up with Trump. It started before Trump took office, but has moved forward with a fever pitch since the new Administration took the reigns and said, "Hold My Beer!" to everyone including the rest of the world.
We have expected Presidents in the past to be, well, Presidential. For the most part we have seen that, but there is something different going on today in Washington under the Trump Administration. A President should be the conduit through which progress is made in our country. A President should work toward bringing both major parties together to work toward common goals that are important to the stability of the country and the betterment of the populous as a whole. A President should be someone the world looks at and respects as the leader of the free world.
Our current President has worked harder at creating a divide between parties than he has at bringing them together. Our current President has begun a campaign of isolationism around the world, pulling out of agreements with allies and instating ridiculous tariffs on other countries while citing national security as a means to instate the tariffs without involving congress. Our current President does not speak words of unity to the world and the people of America; he speaks words of hate to individuals, companies, the opposing party, and the world. Trump has done nothing to bring people together to work toward common goals. He has, in large part, incited the horrible polarization we are seeing in America today.
This country and all citizens in it regardless of political views, deserve better from our leadership. We need a leader who will drive collaboration between parties, who will lift people up instead of denigrate them, who will look out for the best interests of all Americans, and who will ensure a fair and balanced approach is taken when dealing with the issues that affect Americans and people around the globe.
It doesn't have to be one way or the other. There is always another option, but we are not allowed to even consider that other option in today's America. The most concerning thing to me as I sit and observe everything as it happens in every 24 hour news cycle is that an entire party of legislators in Washington who behind closed doors know how horrible this President is with his lies and constant denigration of others, stand lock step with him on almost every damn issue. They don't have the guts to stand up and stand against a President they don't agree with.
We need to get back to a place where debate is used effectively to find compromise. We need to stop the hate and partisan isolationism and get to a place where effective decisions can be made to bring our country out of the hole it is currently in.
Voters and those of voting age who have never voted; this is your year to speak at the ballot box. Don't go out and vote straight ticket Blue or Red. Don't go out and guess for who to vote for. Don't sit at home and choose not to vote when you spend the rest of your time complaining about how crappy things are. Don't be part of the problem. Be part of the solution.
Stand up, educate yourself on the candidates, look at who is in Congress right now and what seats are open in your state. If an incumbent who has held a seat for countless years is up for re-election, and that incumbent has done nothing for his or her constituency, vote the incumbent out and send a message that inaction will not be tolerated. Send that strong message so that those elected this time know that if they cannot show their constituents next election cycle that work has been done, they will also be voted out. More people than ever before need to vote. Show Congress who they work for, and who holds the keys to their careers. We have incumbents who have been in the House and Senate for DECADES. Educate yourselves and be part of the only solution we have at this point.
Remember, we outnumber the legislators by about 320 Million. Let's put our numbers to work at the polls this year and every year thereafter.
Otherwise, I fear where we are headed as a country.
And remember, it doesn't have to be one way or the other; it can be whatever is best for our country and our people. It won't be, however, if we don't act.
DUNK
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