buckle up, buttercup

[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet articulate contributor #4...]

When did the United States of America become the UNunited States of America? With certainty, I can tell you it wasn't overnight. It has been a steady and slow progression over the past 25+ years as media power/influence/presence/accessibility has increased. Sadly, the divide that was previously narrow enough for either party to bridge in the 90’s is gone today with outspoken members from both parties and the mainstream media continuing to do everything they possibly can to turn that gap into a chasm… you vs. me… us vs. them… or “we are more CORRECT than those people.” Let’s stop falling for it! Political parties are even condemning their own for "not toeing the party line."

Unfortunately, there is also very little discussion occurring amongst the people; there is more finger-pointing and virtue-signaling from both sides (thanks to social media), rather than concentrating on listening and trying understand each other's perspective. If you are truly interested in dialogue, remember that no one has ever convinced someone else to change their political opinion due to a social media post… EVER! The ONLY place for political conversations is face-to-face; it removes all unintended tone and some degree of the implied "my thinking is better than yours" attitude. Do you concur?

Let me be clear about something: there is not one single elected official who actually cares about you as an individual… not 1, in my opinion. If you believe whoever is in office values your individual opinion, you are likely dreaming. Our political landscape has turned into a money-train and a way to live a very comfortable life with most politicians accumulating way more wealth than the average American citizen. Most politicians solely espouse their party's line(s), with seldom to never, even considering their constituents.

Here are some things I am in favor of: 

• A strong United States of America
• More domestic manufacturing
• Promotion of skilled trades
• Traditional families
• Biological females only in girl's/women's sports
• Right to bear arms
• Due process
• Personal responsibility 
• Government checks & balances
• Free speech
• Peaceful demonstration
• Reasonable (not free) healthcare & medicine
• Representative democracy
• Term limits for Congress

Here are some of the things I am not in favor of:

• Everyone should go go college dogma
• BIG PHARMA
• Voter fraud
• Large government
• Red tape
• Heavy-handed policing
• "Rules" based upon the past instead of common sense
• Members of Congress accumulating vast wealth using non-public intel
• Minimizing me or my opinion because I'm a white male
• Open borders
• Media-bias
• Radical religion
• Teaching sex-education in grade school
• Government waste & spending abuse
• Free college for everyone
• Terrorism
• Unnecessary shootings
• Tolerance that doesn't go both directions
• Fear mongering
• Hiring quotas
• Antagonizing ICE agents (especially releasing personal info)
• Socialism
• Defunding law enforcement
• Gas-lighting
• Bigotry & racism!

Do I detest some of these? Absolutely. This list, however, doesn't mean there is no room for me to discuss these topics. These are just the things that inform how I most often align myself. I also believe that every human being was created in the image of God. But this does not, nor will it ever, mean that I will agree with everyone else's perspective or opinion on everything. That sounds silly just reading it back.  

You are entitled to your opinion, just as I am entitled to mine. Is it okay for your co-worker/neighbor/friend as well?  No one's "list" is "better" or "more correct" than someone else's. It should still be okay to "agree to disagree."  

I grew up with a grandfather on one side that had a small family business and a grandfather in a technical skilled-trade on the other.  Both of them served in WW2. Neither had a college degree. Both of them were from small cities/towns in Pennsylvania. Both of them built great lives for their families. As is common in many/most families, my political perspective was influenced by my family.

I voted for Clinton because I believed he was the best candidate/party for the country at that time. I DID NOT vote for him because of his upstanding morals. Likewise, I voted for Trump in 2016 because, at that point, I believed the Republican party was closer to the things which were important to me. Two of the reasons I choose to do so were because Trump was pro-USA and, more importantly, he was not a career-politician. Is he a sharp-tongued, self-important, quick-fingered, speaks-without-thinking narcissist? Without a doubt! Is he doing things politicians have been afraid to do, or even mention, for the past 25+ years? Also yes.

When each of us votes, we vote for both a party AND a candidate/candidates.  It is a challenge to separate a politician from his/her personality and/or morals. It is also a challenge to not concentrate ONLY on the negative things which "that other party" / the President is doing or has done. I highly doubt that your "list" matches up directly with mine. Just because two people's lists don't align, doesn't make them mortal enemies. I humbly suggest that it makes both human, each with their own flaws and strengths and perspectives and histories and personalities and preferences. Is such something new for you to consider?

I challenge you to seek conversation over confrontation, placing the most value on listening and empathy and focusing on the commonalities. I especially encourage you to talk with someone that likely "thinks differently" than you do. 

How much would our country benefit if everyone chose to replace judgment with a face-to-face chat?

Kindly…

CA