Elections

 

As we get closer to the next presidential election, I find myself spending less time on the internet and social media. I have always disliked the road leading to elections and have resigned to stay away from the three-ringed circus, smear campaigns, he said-she said, promises never kept and a very distinct division in our country. Over the past 15+ years I have watched the line that used to separate different viewpoints in our country grow into a gaping chasm of total division. I have seen truth become subjective and manipulated based on desired outcome and who is delivering the information. Facts and the pursuit of facts have become as outdated as a rotary phone while friends have suddenly severed relationships, based solely on who someone voted for, almost as if years and years spent together and memories made were eradicated simply by casting a vote. It is sad and embarrassing for our country.

 

As I mull this over, I know a divided house is easier to attack and control. A divided house will fall faster as the occupants are too busy pointing fingers and being angry at the slightest, perceived insurrection. Blanket statements are a tool for manipulators designed to evoke emotion. A continuous roller-coaster of emotional information can create a riot based, frenzied focus preventing people from critically viewing situations, looking at facts and thinking for themselves.

 

News and media have contributed to the constant upheaval. News used to be “just the facts, ma’am”, but now a station can report whatever they want without repercussions for slander, lies, misinformation or slants. Even if there is a slap on the wrist, the information is already out there. Good journalism seems as elusive as the majestic unicorn. My hope is one day opinion pieces will once again become opinion pieces and good journalists will report the facts without a slant. I hope people will again become hungry and motivated to search for facts and not pad lazy beliefs with garbage.

 

Rhetoric and propaganda have already surrounded the upcoming elections. Honestly, I don’t think it ever stopped. News stations and social media posts are already pointing fingers; all our current troubles are Trump’s fault, Biden’s fault, blah, blah, blah, blah. Those ideas are perpetuated with biased stories and stations that cherry pick what and how they report news. Have you ever checked news stations from both sides of the aisle regarding the same story? They are almost NEVER the same. The main characters may be the same, but what and how it is reported is different. Some stations choose not to report what might be considered headline news to the American people. Why? I ask that often, why? Maybe more of us need to be asking that question and looking for legitimate answers.

 

As I look at incumbents up for re-election, I think about what the constitution originally meant with, “by the people and for the people.” In my opinion our government has not been by or for the people for decades. Incumbents have been in these positions for longer than many voters have been alive. Why? How can they represent the people when they have served for decades away from the average American? These people on both sides of the aisle, who have coveted these positions for decades, care about getting re-elected, THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT US. Let me repeat that, THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT US. They don’t care if you can’t afford to buy milk unless it can be manipulated for a vote. Harsh, I know, but reality.

 

As with everything I’m sure there are legislators who have a genuine interest, but the further away from the backbone they get, the less interested they become and the less they comprehend our daily lives. How many incumbents have had to worry about the price of gas, if there is enough money to cover groceries, if they can buy new shoes for the kids or even if they will have a job tomorrow? How many currently working in D.C. have had those thoughts in the last 10, 15, 20, 30 or even 40 years? Why? Because they don’t have the same life we do. They get paid, they have a job, they are immune to the daily struggles many of us face. Over 50% of the elected officials in D.C. are millionaires. Most did not start as millionaires but have reached that pinnacle while in office. Multiple homes, better life-long health care and security. It is a comfortable lifestyle with no accountability for lying, cheating, or stealing. The goal is to be re-elected every few years, and president aside, these are the people who have been running this country for a very long time.

 

Do you realize our politicians have one of few “careers” allowed to totally screw us over with absolutely no consequences. None. How many keep campaign promises? Are there repercussions for not keeping campaign promises? How many use vague, pretty language or an “it” topic to get elected and do very little to better the country once in office?

 

When challenged with the state of our country the responses from elected officials are disheartening, simply blaming the other political party; I would, but the other party is stopping me. Excuse the phraseology, but I call bullshit. They use each other to sidestep accountability and feed the division.

 

The news, media and politicians have a penchant for keeping unrest among the people by operating in partial truths or even lies. A bill is introduced by one party for “saving all the puppies from starvation.” The title is splashed everywhere with limited information regarding the contents of the bill. When one group doesn’t vote for the bill, whether it passes or not, the other side goes on record accusing them of hating puppies. What they fail to mention and choose not to report are the “47” other pet projects tagged to the bill to benefit themselves or lobbyists. Do the American people usually hear about the other items listed in the “450” pages of that bill? No, most choose to respond to the slanted information with name calling, slurs, rudeness, and vile displays. Why isn’t our government factual about the other items padded into the bill? Why would they choose to share only the emotionally charged topic? Good questions, don’t you think? Dissension fuels re-election.

 

When I think about casting my vote, I realize we really aren’t choosing the best people to run our country. The parties decide who to put in front of us and we vote for the lesser of two evils or for many they simply vote party. The system prevents the average person from having any real chance of being elected. Why?

 

During campaigns, candidates focus on emotionally charged, divisive topics, topics that evoke visceral responses from voters, making it easy to divide Americans. When people are stirred up about passionate issues with very clear sides, other things can become secondary; inflation, jobs, cost of living, housing. All talking points are important, but as leaders of our country, our representatives should be talking just as vehemently about the livelihood of our country, the safety of our country, if new generations will have access to viable jobs and how those jobs will be sustained. They should be discussing plans for how we will cover bonds and notes to foreign countries when they become due. How we will deal with trillions of dollars of debt. It seems pretty words and inciting frenzied responses act as smoke and mirrors to keep us from asking even more difficult questions. Why? Control is a powerful thing.

 

When we are at each other’s throats we are easier to control. They want us to hate the person that owns a gun because obviously they don’t care about people getting shot. They want us to hate someone who doesn’t look, think, or act like us or someone who doesn’t agree with us 100%. They want us to have a narrow, limited view of our country. You are either with us or against us. Why??? Is it possible to own a gun, support gun rights and still be concerned about shootings? YES! Is it possible to look, think or act differently and not agree with someone completely, but still support them. YES!

 

We are not the problem, your neighbor and her partner are not the problem, the guy down the street that owns a gun is not the problem, the single mom trying to make ends meet is not the problem, people with different ideas and opinions are NOT the problem. We have been nuanced to believe they are. Why?? A frenzied, overwhelmed mind doesn’t ask questions.

 

As we head into this season, I encourage you to check the emotion at the door and look at ALL the issues and know NOTHING is free. Ask those tasked to represent us how they will help our country grow and prosper over the next 4, 10, 15 years. Research your candidates and ask the difficult questions, don’t just succumb to pretty, propaganda statements. Dig deeper into buzz words and clearly understand their view points, and the plan to reach goals. Ask them how and why often.

 

Take a deep breath and have a conversation with those you have been conditioned to dislike. Send an olive branch to those you aren’t talking to because of their view or opinion. Have a conversation. Bring your researched facts, not truths, and educate each other. Find a middle ground, share an idea, refuse to be manipulated. Be hungry for facts, hungry for shared views, hungry for a better tomorrow, and hungry for a brighter future for our country.

 

As we all hunker down to weather what the next 16 months brings, I encourage you to bypass the memes, refrain from making nasty comments about one party or the other. Choose to do your own research and not regurgitate information that has been cut and pasted. Educate yourself. Don’t make blanket statements and lump entire groups of people based on one or two characteristics. Start a conversation and be willing to hear what someone with a different opinion has to say. Become hungry for change. We can make the future better and brighter by working together.