In today’s politics we are faced with the fact that one party sees the world through their eyes and ONLY their eyes,. The other party tries to see the world through other peoples eyes, with a large dose of their own prejudices.

I’ll let you decide which is which, but this is as it seems to me. There isn’t any in between, it’s all or none, my way or the highway: “if you ain’t with us you’re against us.”

What in life is so black and white with no grey? Is investing so one-sided? Is love of a special person always perfect? Does medical science always get it right? How about religion? Oh, I know, YOUR religion is the RIGHT religion; sorry I forgot!

Nothing is as black and white as our politics.

Remember (for those over the age of 50 or those that have studied actual history) the election of RM Nixon?

Nixon was the dream boy, the powerful, no nonsense, tough guy who was going to be the President above all Presidents. Yes, he resigned because he didn’t want to be impeached. At least this way it might help his legacy by being pardoned by his VP, Ford, and not impeached where ALL the dirty stuff would emerge and there would be more stink coming out of his tenure as President. (I often wondered what kind of a deal they worked out in some closed door meeting,this time with the tape recorder turned off. Lesson learned… get it!)

President Carter, a home-grown peanut farmer was going to lead us. His reputation (although not nearly as bad as present day people think, especially those from the right) is not a good one. His biggest problem was he told the American people the truth, something they don’t often want to know. Who wants to hear about their faults?

“You complain too much you’re a complainer, you drink too much, you’re a loud mouth, you’re lazy, why don’t you get a job, spendthrift always looking to spend money.”

President Carter told us of our dependence on oil and how we needed to cut back on its use.

“Oh, no you don’t,” we the people cried in retaliation, “Don’t tell me I’ve got to get rid of my long sleek gas guzzling car, are you kidding me?”

So if nothing is black and white, why can’t we as a people make an effort to understand each other and know there are always at least TWO sides to an issue.

If something is so good, why are there millions of people opposed to that same something you are so gun-ho about? Is it possible that they may have a few good points about this something that you don’t see or maybe don’t want to see? Why are there educated people opposed to this something?

This is not to imply that educated people are know-it-alls and make only good decisions, but don’t we try to hire an educated person, a person with the highest degree, the one with the most experience? Have you every talked politics with someone and actually found they had an open mind, a willingness to give your input some true unbiased thought? Or have you found them STUCK with their convictions and not willing to budge? I’ll bet the latter!

Better still have you ever talked politics with someone and actually listened with that open mind you expected from them, with that willingness to give THEIR input some true unbiased thought? Or were YOU stuck with your convictions and not willing to budge. I’ll bet the latter again.

And this is the problem: we come up with some first impressions and then don’t want to give up our position, just like the football team I mentioned in an earlier blog. If it’s our team, by God, no matter how good or bad, how honest and truthful, no matter how right or wrong, they are MY TEAM so therefore THEY ARE THE ONE!

And so it goes…

No one wants to give up on their candidate.

No one wants to give up on their issues.

No one wants to compromise and come to a mutually beneficial solution to our country’s problems.

Just look at our GOP.

We have the most obstructionist congress probably in our history. For 7 years we have not worked with President Obama and the democrats. All of their ideas can’t be all bad, their supreme court appointment can’t be all bad, why don’t we at least try to work with them for our country. Nope! Can’t do it…they don’t have that R beside their name … so it can’t be good for our party. Well, what about the country? Does anyone care?

This is why we see a rise in candidates outside the establishment rising in the primaries. They are sick of politics as usual. Now comes the time when you need to really, really think and compare, and not vote ‘just’ party.

Don’t just listen to Fox or MSNBC. Listen to all news, read from the internet. Don’t just look for WHAT MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE.

Don’t just listen to what FEELS good.

Don’t just look for like-thoughts and opinions.

Seek out the opposite give it some consideration. Try to dig into what makes the other guy think the way he does. Don’t just dismiss her because she doesn’t agree with you. They may know what’s better for this country, and therefore you, more than you do. Think about that!

Oh no, having to think, maybe even give in to another line of thought?

Oh no I’m feeling the upset, the headache, the uneasiness creeping in….

Take two aspirins and call me in the morning…….