I really don’t like being labeled, but for the sake of disclosure,
I guess you might say that I am a Christian Conservative. That should be understood, however, in light
of the fact that I might not fit in too well with other Christian
Conservatives. Regardless, most of my
life I have been registered to vote as an Independent.
Since most elections in Idaho are decided in the
Republican primary, I am now registered to vote as a Republican. When we lived in Colorado’s San Luis Valley
in the 1980’s, I was registered to vote as a Democrat, for the same reason. My belief is that the Democratic Party has
moved too far left, and now I couldn’t be registered to vote as a Democrat for
any reason. I am sure that some people
would feel the same about the Republican Party moving too far right.
American politics in recent years has been like a
pendulum. It swings left for a while,
and then it swings right. The problem,
as I see it, is that the swings are becoming too extreme. I do not support either extreme, and I am
pretty sure most other Americans are more comfortable with politics that are
closer to the middle.
I have often regarded Democrats and Republicans as two
sides of the same counterfeit coin. That
coin is a political class that is more concerned with personal and party political
power, than with the best interests of our country. They value their ability to be reelected and using
public service as a means of personal enrichment; rather than acting in the
best long-term public interest. I don’t like that.
I like having the ability to choose between clearly differentiated
alternatives. However, I am very
concerned, as I see our people becoming more and more polarized. The 24 hour
broadcast news media have been complicit in creating this oppositional
political and societal atmosphere. The ”talking
heads” on television and the radio hammer away day after day with the same old divisive
“talking points;” rather than reporting the facts or discussing possible
solutions that, while not perfect, could be acceptable to both sides.
I have a few expectations once elections have been held. I would like our elected officials to treat
each other with respect; if not for the person, then for the office. When Rep. Nancy Pelosi withdraws the invitation
for President Trump to deliver the state of the union address at the capitol
building, she is not just showing disrespect for Donald Trump, she is showing
disrespect for the Office of the President.
It poisons the political atmosphere, polarizes the opposing parties,
makes coming to agreement more difficult, and sets a terrible example. When President Trump gets up and walks out of
a meeting with congressional leaders, all of the foregoing applies to him.
I seem to recall promises to temper the dialogue, to show
mutual respect, and to work together following the tragic shooting of Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords. What are the American
people getting instead? Our elected
representatives hold stubbornly to untenable, extreme positions, refusing to
give even the slightest accommodation.
They attack the character of good people to deny them appointments to
high office or contest the suitability of duly elected persons to hold
office. They abuse the criminal justice
system for political advantage. Everyone
knows politics is a dirty business at best, but today’s politicians are giving
a dirty business a bad name. In doing
these things, they show disrespect for the American people.
We all have memories of our antics in school, and there
are some stories we could tell. However, we were kids and not holders of high
office in the greatest nation on earth. I
call for the president and all senators and congressmen to stop acting like
school children and to get the peoples’ business done. I expect you to work together to find
mutually acceptable solutions to contested matters. Presently, in your extremism and bitter
antagonism you are offering lose - lose alternatives. Then you remain deadlocked until the fight
leads to a win - lose outcome. After
that you gloat, smirk, and crow about it, creating more hard feeling. It is expected that you do your job, which is
to find enough common ground to craft win - win outcomes. In short, GET THE PEOPLES’ BUSINESS DONE.
Extremism on either the left or the right in the United
States of America will wreak the county.
Our Lord said:
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (Mk
3:24 NKJV)
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