I am not a political writer, but I do follow politics. I once ran for mayor in a small town, but I am not a politician. I am not going to try and change your mind about the two main candidates from Tuesday's election, so please don't waste your time and try and change mind. If you are my friend, I don't care if we have wildly different, varying opinions. That is not what made us friends. Politics and all things political do not define who I am. At least I hope it doesn't.
In the 1976 election, I was 18 years and five months old, so I could legally vote for the first time. I voted for Gerald Ford. He lost. Oh well, that happens.in every presidential election from 1976 through 2008, I voted for the republican. Some won, some didn't. Some of the Democrats who won turned out to be decent presidents. Some of the Republicans were less than what I expected. It happens.
I have always (since 1980) considered myself a Reagan Republican. Strong defense, keep the government out of the way of business and the electorate, Promote a strong economy. Back then it wasn't so much a big deal what party you were a part of. To be honest, for the most part, there wasn't a thumbnails worth of difference in the two parties. Sure they disagreed on some things, but the differences were not so great that a good compromise couldn't keep the government running.
I remember when Reagan was President, the Democrats controlled the House. The speaker was an Irishman from Boston, Tip O'Neill. Every Friday, or whatever day was convenient, President Reagan and Speaker O'Neill would get together at the White House. Frequently, weather permitting, they would sit on the Truman Balcony, overlooking the south lawn and Washington Monument, have a beer or two or three, and discuss the fate of the nation and how things were going and how they could work together better. That is how the government worked. It was perfect.
Somewhere in the early 2000's, the Internet found its footing. Websites and blogs with no pedigree popped up everywhere, with individuals spouting their idea of not only how the government should work, but also how we should believe. All the while hiding behind some sort of anonymity, spouting statistics and quotes as if they were Gospel. An electorate, especially those under 40, tired of the 30 minutes of the evening news and the morning paper, flocked to these websites, these blogs
Many of these the authors were names nobody knew. Just someone with a far left or far-right idea, with a computer and a knowledge of how to post their ramblings. Some became famous like Rush Limbaugh, whose sole purpose, other than make money, was to stir the emotions of their followers, to make the other side appear to be the devil himself. Yes, Bill Clinton made some mistakes, but he did some good. I actually came to admire Barack Obama a lot more than I thought I would.
But cable television and the internet, social media if you will, made it their job to separate us. Choose sides it was implied. You are either for us or against us. Reason, or having a willingness to compromise, was viewed as a weakness or a willingness to cave in to the other side. MSNBC had a decidedly left slant, Fox News was so far right it nearly went around the block. CNN was not quite as bad, but still there was an edge.
It was a new era. The way we treated those who opposed us went from "I'm sorry, we just disagree," to full blown disdain and name-calling. Questioning the sanity of the person with a differing opinion. At the same time issues have attached themselves to the two parties. Citizens rally around these causes as if our survival as a republic depends on it. I've got news for you, it doesn't.
But I don't want you to think today's blog is all negative, because it is not. I believe there is hope.
I was thrilled Tuesday night when exit polls showed the issue that concerned the voters most was not abortion, not immigration, not the economy. No, the issue that was at the forefront of the voters who cast their ballots was the state of the democracy. Praise the Lord, common sense is returning! A full 34 percent said the democracy mattered the most when they cast their vote. Government, political science and civic teachers everywhere could be heard rejoicing. For weeks all we heard about on the news and on social media was abortion and immigration. Are these important issues? Absolutely, but they are not the ONLY issues. I really don't understand individuals who are one issue voters, that is make their decision on who to vote for based on one issue. But that is just my opinion.
But abortion and immigration, the two hot topics. Of those polled two days ago, 14 percent said abortion was the issue foremost in their minds. Eleven percent said immigration was the most important. This is astounding. We have been told for months these were the most important issues, and they are, to one-fourth of Americans. That means to three out of every four voters, an issue other than abortion or immigration is the most important. Imagine that. At the same time, 37 percent, nearly two out of every five, felt the future of the democracy was the most important. That is more than abortion and immigration combined. Just let that sink it for a bit.
Look, I no longer consider myself a Republican, but I don't consider myself a Democrat either. It is not my intention to be negative, though in some paragraphs that may be hard to believe. I do believe that we as Americans can do better. Our candidates need to be better, there needs to be mutual respect for the other side of the aisle, and social media needs to quit stirring the pot just because they can.
The voters have spoken. We need to be concerned about our republic and the democracy we enjoy. Otherwise, there won't be any more elections.
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