Changing The Tone

I spend a lot of time in book stores--I love books! Usually I spend most of that time in the American History/Political Science/Biography sections. Too often I see book after book by either a conservative or liberal writer--slamming the other side! Titles like "Why Liberals Are Stupid" or "Conservatives Are Nazis" or "How Liberals Are Destroying Our Nation" or "How Conservatives Are Selling Us Out" and the list goes on and on and on! Most of these books rarely offer well thought out solutions as well as ideas and ideals on how to solve our nation's problems. They just attack the other side, make fun of them, call them un-American and basically they raise the level of hate in this country!

Sadly, I never see titles like "How We Can All Come Together And Rebuild Our Nation" or "Out With Partisanship And In With Unity" or "Bridging The Partisan Divide." Such titles of such books, simply would not be as juicy and would not play to the base of the two major political parties. Such titles don't get people as stirred up and whipped into a frenzy. The purpose these days in politics and political leadership--is rarely to inspire and motivate people to go make a difference and invest in their nation, state, and community. Instead, more bridges keep being burned and ideas and ideals matter less and less and high toned rhetoric carries the day--while often NOTHING USEFUL gets done for the people! Sam Rayburn once said "Any jackass can kick down a barn."

But we can change that!

I'm not against the two party system. However, I am against extremism and I am against putting party politics before national and community needs! The average American does not care about the ins and outs of party politics. They don't care about making a precinct meeting or a senatorial district convention. However, many of these same folks do vote, they pay taxes, they go to jury duty, and they work and contribute to society! I think President Nixon called such folks "The Silent Majority." These hard working families don't want to hear about President Obama being called the "Anti-Christ" or a "Communist" anymore than they want to hear about some of Sarah Palin's personal life issues or how her daughter's ex-boyfriend is running for mayor in her hometown.

They want to hear about what we are gonna do about strengthening the economy. They want to hear how we will remain safe abroad and at home. They want to see unhealthy immigration tempered and changed instead of a war of hate and words between the Governor of Arizona and Obama Justice Department. They want to see an end to entitlements and unhealthy/enabling of welfare--without hurting families who really do need help.

And in the community, we want to hear about how we will finance and then execute repairing streets and old water utilities infrastructure, storm drains, better public safety, and how to avoid cutting needed local programs during tight budgets.

We can do all those things and more and do them well! If we move beyond the heated and hateful rhetoric of the current partisan divide! Republicans and Democrats don't have to give up all their core values to be willing to work together and get things done. Campaigning for reelection should start the next day after the election. WHEN DO WE GET DOWN TO GOVERNING?

I've never been a big fan of Newt Gingrich--but at least he writes books that offers well thought out solutions and ways of making things better from his vantage point--that are not just political attack books! Lets start debating methods and strategies of how we should fix problems and not hate each other because we just don't agree!

If conservatives and liberals started talking more and getting to know each other, they might find a lot of areas they agree on. And many of us who don't consider ourselves in either category, get tired of being lumped into one or the other because of certain positions we may have on the issues. I am pro-life and anti-gay marraige--but that does not make me a hater of people who don't agree with me on those issues. I believe there are some areas that government needs to play a part in, when a major financial collapse is about to take place--but that does not make me a socialist. And no matter where my views are, I don't have to have my way on everything--and many of our members of Congress need to learn that they can't have their way on everything--that they may one day have to actually compromise and work together to get something needed done for the people!

We need to lower the degree of harshness and intenseness. We need to stop questioning each other's motives and suggesting that those who may disagree with us are just bad people!

Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama both promised to "change the tone" in Washington. But reality is, under both presidents--we are more divided than we've ever been! Let us learn to sit down at the table of brotherhood and actually learn from each other and consider each other's views. What do we have to lose? ITS TIME TO CHANGE THE TONE!