In my quest and desire to encourage Democrats and Republicans to sit down and listen to each other more, to emphathize more, and get better at questioning differing policies and views while not questioning each other's motives--I will say I have A LONG WAYS TO GO! But thats ok--I persevere because our nation, state, and community is worth the effort!
Recently I challenged the presidents of the Mesquite Republican and Democratic Clubs to sit down with each other and look to find common ground--and for their respective clubs to sit down once a year and break bread together and to participate in a community project together. This has not happened yet, but I will keep urging such communication and efforts.
There are great needs and challenges our nation and communities face! There is nothing wrong with citizens having differing views and opposing ideas. But there is something wrong when problems remain unsolved because those in political power in both major political parties refuse to work together. There was a time when partisanship ended at the water's edge in this country. Today, most Democrats and Republicans in politics--whether elected or not elected--DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER!!! Thats sad!
Let us remember, that in many of our nation's previous wars--many Democrats and Republicans fought side by side and gave their lives on the battlefield because they both loved their nation, they both loved freedom, and they both believed in the Constitution--though they may have had some differing politcal views.
We would do good to follow in their footsteps! Learning to find common ground and work together to do the people's business--doesn't mean we have to give up our core beliefs and values or compromise on principle. But it does mean we have to listen to each other, try to empathize with one another, and care about the common good of the nation and our communities before partisan politics.
We are a good and great nation. We can do better! I believe our greatest days are ahead! But we have to stop shouting at each other and hating each other and start listening and caring for one another.
God bless the United States of America and all the communities within our nation.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
WHY SO LITTLE GETS DONE
Happy Independence Day everyone! We often see on the news shows, how there is so much fighting and ugliness in Congress and how so often when important issues are on the table that our nation desperately needs results on--OFTEN NOTHING GETS DONE!
I believe deeply, that it is because all we do is shout and hate and close our minds and really don't much care about our fellow citizens and our nation--we just want what we want and to hell with everyone else! No, I don't think this is reflective of everyone in politics--but it is indeed a problem our nation faces.
Whether it is financial reform, healthcare, foreign policy, campaign finance reform, immigration reform to name a few--often nothing gets done because each side has too much of an "ALL OR NOTHING ATTITITUDE!"
All throughout our nation's history, there has always been partisan wrangling and tough fights--dating back really to just a short time into Washington's first term--as he bitterly fought having political parties--but by 1800--it was a reality. The famous and controversial election of 1800 put party politics squarely before the nation with Jefferson and Madison's Democratic Republicans versus Adams and Hamilton's Federalists (although Adams and Hamiliton hated each other.)
But whether it was Whigs working with Democratic President Polk in the war with Mexico or War Democrats working with Republican President Lincoln during the Civil War or Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and House Speaker Sam Rayburn working with a Republican President Dwight Eisenhower to build a national highway system--often both sides have worked together to get things done for our nation and its people! Not so much so today.
I believe the first thing that needs to change--is that partsian politics needs to take a step back! I am not suggesting that we end the two party system per say. But for sure--THE TWO PARTIES NEED TO START TALKING MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AGREE ON AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY FOCUSING ON THE NEXT ELECTION!!!!!
For this to happen, cooler heads of wisdom and calm leadership need to push out the extremists in both parties. Former Senator Barry Goldwater though a great American--was simply wrong when he said at the 1964 GOP National Convention "Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice." Anytime we have to yell and hate each other--that is too extreme! The nation gets hurt when that happens! The "Tea Partyers" who are cozied up to the Republican Party and the "Greens" and "Ultra Left Wingers" who cozy up to the Democratic Party both ultimately hurt the debate on important issues. This whole "NO COMPROMISE" thing both sides have going--IS NOT AMERICAN! Such is not the precedent of the rich and great history of our nation! And let me add--that the old days of often times not being able to tell the difference between a Republican or Democratic politician when it comes to both selling out to special interests is not what we are looking for either!
And whether its George W. Bush or Barack Obama, if those presidents are not doing anything that is impeachable or illegal--then making statements like "they should be removed from office" or other hateful statements really just hurt the nation! We should always still respect the office, even if we don't like the man. I often did not agree with President Bush's domestic policies and a few of his foreign policy decisions--but he was always "my" president. The first 9 months of his presidency, I was pretty irritated with him--but on the days following 9/11--I loved him and prayed for him daily! I don't always agree with President Obama, but he is our president and has incredibly difficult decisions to make daily and he walked into office with a very complex and difficult set of national problems--and he needs our prayers and support. Support does not mean agreeing with him all the time, but it does mean toning down the hate and rhetoric. Same to those who are beyond the "Moderate Democrat" label--but who are far left to the core--bashing and making fun of Americans who are conservative in their religious and moral values and have deep beliefs on issues like abortion and same sex marraige--lets tone down the harshness and disrespect. There are many good citizens who vote more Republican and conservative who are not out in the streets shouting racial epitaphs or throwing bricks into windows like we recently saw at some of the Tea Party rallies.
Whether a politician is a Republican or a Democrat, both should be men or women of the highest integrity, be Americans first, and look out for the interests of their constituents before the wishes of their political party. Which means at some point, we are going to have to really get serious about doing something about campaign finance reform. At some point, we need to level the playing field of political campaigns. From the way we gerry mander to the way campaigns are financed, too often congressional and state legislative races are usually a foregone conclusion of who will win simply because of how the districts are written and where the money comes from.
What if we had a system in place, where campaign money was publicly financed (it could be paid for in a way that does not hurt taxpayers)--where the top two candidates are given a budget of equal amounts and those candidates actually have to really work neighborhoods, go to local debates and forums and share their beliefs and ideas with voters--instead of everything being done with slick mail and tv ads?
And with regards to everyone shouting at each other--what if both major polical parties--made a committment to start talking to each other more? What if starting at the top--the National Republican and Democratic Party leadership met at least once a year to talk about issues they could agree on and work together on? What if then the leaders of each of the state party leaderships on both sides met at least once a year to do the same? What if then all the local county and municipal party leaderships or clubs started meeting at least once a year to discuss needs of the community where they could work together?
What if in Mesquite, Texas--the local Republican Club sat down and broke bread with the local Democratic Club at least once a year--and committed to working together on a local project where there was a real need that needed to be met? Maybe helping Mesquite Social Services or helping some of our poorest kids have back to school supplies or helping widows whose homes are in disrepair? And what if in that time, friendships were made and people from very differing political and other views began to at least understand each other a little better and could find some areas of common ground that would ultimately better our community, state, and nation?
Is that such a crazy thought?
Lets have a conversation.
I believe deeply, that it is because all we do is shout and hate and close our minds and really don't much care about our fellow citizens and our nation--we just want what we want and to hell with everyone else! No, I don't think this is reflective of everyone in politics--but it is indeed a problem our nation faces.
Whether it is financial reform, healthcare, foreign policy, campaign finance reform, immigration reform to name a few--often nothing gets done because each side has too much of an "ALL OR NOTHING ATTITITUDE!"
All throughout our nation's history, there has always been partisan wrangling and tough fights--dating back really to just a short time into Washington's first term--as he bitterly fought having political parties--but by 1800--it was a reality. The famous and controversial election of 1800 put party politics squarely before the nation with Jefferson and Madison's Democratic Republicans versus Adams and Hamilton's Federalists (although Adams and Hamiliton hated each other.)
But whether it was Whigs working with Democratic President Polk in the war with Mexico or War Democrats working with Republican President Lincoln during the Civil War or Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and House Speaker Sam Rayburn working with a Republican President Dwight Eisenhower to build a national highway system--often both sides have worked together to get things done for our nation and its people! Not so much so today.
I believe the first thing that needs to change--is that partsian politics needs to take a step back! I am not suggesting that we end the two party system per say. But for sure--THE TWO PARTIES NEED TO START TALKING MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AGREE ON AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY FOCUSING ON THE NEXT ELECTION!!!!!
For this to happen, cooler heads of wisdom and calm leadership need to push out the extremists in both parties. Former Senator Barry Goldwater though a great American--was simply wrong when he said at the 1964 GOP National Convention "Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice." Anytime we have to yell and hate each other--that is too extreme! The nation gets hurt when that happens! The "Tea Partyers" who are cozied up to the Republican Party and the "Greens" and "Ultra Left Wingers" who cozy up to the Democratic Party both ultimately hurt the debate on important issues. This whole "NO COMPROMISE" thing both sides have going--IS NOT AMERICAN! Such is not the precedent of the rich and great history of our nation! And let me add--that the old days of often times not being able to tell the difference between a Republican or Democratic politician when it comes to both selling out to special interests is not what we are looking for either!
And whether its George W. Bush or Barack Obama, if those presidents are not doing anything that is impeachable or illegal--then making statements like "they should be removed from office" or other hateful statements really just hurt the nation! We should always still respect the office, even if we don't like the man. I often did not agree with President Bush's domestic policies and a few of his foreign policy decisions--but he was always "my" president. The first 9 months of his presidency, I was pretty irritated with him--but on the days following 9/11--I loved him and prayed for him daily! I don't always agree with President Obama, but he is our president and has incredibly difficult decisions to make daily and he walked into office with a very complex and difficult set of national problems--and he needs our prayers and support. Support does not mean agreeing with him all the time, but it does mean toning down the hate and rhetoric. Same to those who are beyond the "Moderate Democrat" label--but who are far left to the core--bashing and making fun of Americans who are conservative in their religious and moral values and have deep beliefs on issues like abortion and same sex marraige--lets tone down the harshness and disrespect. There are many good citizens who vote more Republican and conservative who are not out in the streets shouting racial epitaphs or throwing bricks into windows like we recently saw at some of the Tea Party rallies.
Whether a politician is a Republican or a Democrat, both should be men or women of the highest integrity, be Americans first, and look out for the interests of their constituents before the wishes of their political party. Which means at some point, we are going to have to really get serious about doing something about campaign finance reform. At some point, we need to level the playing field of political campaigns. From the way we gerry mander to the way campaigns are financed, too often congressional and state legislative races are usually a foregone conclusion of who will win simply because of how the districts are written and where the money comes from.
What if we had a system in place, where campaign money was publicly financed (it could be paid for in a way that does not hurt taxpayers)--where the top two candidates are given a budget of equal amounts and those candidates actually have to really work neighborhoods, go to local debates and forums and share their beliefs and ideas with voters--instead of everything being done with slick mail and tv ads?
And with regards to everyone shouting at each other--what if both major polical parties--made a committment to start talking to each other more? What if starting at the top--the National Republican and Democratic Party leadership met at least once a year to talk about issues they could agree on and work together on? What if then the leaders of each of the state party leaderships on both sides met at least once a year to do the same? What if then all the local county and municipal party leaderships or clubs started meeting at least once a year to discuss needs of the community where they could work together?
What if in Mesquite, Texas--the local Republican Club sat down and broke bread with the local Democratic Club at least once a year--and committed to working together on a local project where there was a real need that needed to be met? Maybe helping Mesquite Social Services or helping some of our poorest kids have back to school supplies or helping widows whose homes are in disrepair? And what if in that time, friendships were made and people from very differing political and other views began to at least understand each other a little better and could find some areas of common ground that would ultimately better our community, state, and nation?
Is that such a crazy thought?
Lets have a conversation.
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