Watching the talking heads ( including politicians ), scrambling to make sense of the recent election results and why everyone got it wrong, reminds me of rats in a maze - in which there is no way through. They work themselves to death, only to wind up right back where they started from, a pointless, useless and ultimately fatal exercise. In the simplest terms, Donald Trump had nothing to lose and won, and Hillary Clinton had everything to lose - and lost. It is irrelevant who won the popular vote versus the electoral college vote, because it is what it is - and will remain so until next time. It is also irrelevant as to what policies may or may not emerge in the next four years, because policies would emerge anyway, no matter who sits in the Oval Office, what the make up of the Congress was or who sits on the Supreme Court. It is pointless to speculate on what the impact might be on each of us, because we simply can't know until we find out - when it happens.
What is relevant, is the same thing that is always relevant, and that is, what do we do now? Do we continue the partisan battles that history clearly shows are NOT good for the country? Do we go back and try policies that previously failed, hoping they'll work this time? Do we widen the social divide, trying to capitalize on perceived gains? Or, do we step back from combat and try to understand why not everyone agrees with us? Of course, if your attitude that American citizens not of your color, religion, party, or what have you, are not true citizens and therefor not worthy of respect or consideration - you may as well stop reading now. In the even that you do not have this viewpoint, read on.
To declare that the "left" is intent on destroying America, is to deny the fact that it is their country as well, and will suffer the same consequences. The same is equally true for those who make the same claim about the "right". There are undoubtedly some who wish that very thing, however, these sick individuals do not represent the entire ideology, and their numbers are insignificant. The vast majority have the very same goals and dreams, regardless of their party affiliation or ideology - they just have differing views on how to achieve those things. That being the case, why is it so hard for them to come together and find commonalities? Everyone wants to raise their families in peace and safety, free from economic harm or fear and everyone wants to be successful at whatever they do, so why do we resist trying to help each other do so? The more important question might be; who benefits the most from the ideological divide? The quick answer is; not those who's dreams and goals are at risk, left, right or center.
Why do you suppose that the medical community suggests getting 2nd or 3rd opinions on life or death decisions? It is because there is no single answer for every question, as there are differing views and beliefs regarding medicine in general. We accept that advice without demure, take advantage of it and make the best choice we can, determining what is best for us in that circumstance. Why can we not do the same where politics is concerned? My guess is, because we are discouraged from doing so - by those who benefit from that divide. What would be wrong with a conservative looking at an issue, deciding what is best for themselves, then saying "this is conservative", instead of looking at what other "conservatives" are saying, and doing that instead of what was best for them? Nothing, as far as I can see, yet many do not do what is best for themselves, out of fear of what other "conservatives" may say. That defies the premise of individual liberty does it not?
Some type of policy will be forthcoming and there will be those who agree with it, and those that do not, that is the way it is supposed to be. What is important, is how we deal with the divide - tomorrow. Reacting to policies that don't yet exist, is to join those talking heads in the never ending maze. We can either reach out to others in an effort to succeed, or we can continue to fight, but such a fight is unwinnable. Eventually, the country will swing back to the Democrats, because it always does, then they will attempt to undo everything Republicans did, who will then try to undo everything they did, when we swing back to them - and this has gone on for centuries and will continue to do so - until we decide to do something different tomorrow. Perhaps, the "something different" might be, viewing all Americans as equals and dropping the partisan and ideological rhetoric, that only serves those who created it. We, the people of the United States, have never benefited from this divide, but certain few individuals and groups have. Tomorrow, let it be OUR turn for a change.
Watching the talking heads ( including politicians... (
show quote)