Pretty soon, bye-bye political ads.
At the least the half-truths and downright lies being espoused by both parties’ candidates.
Then we can go about putting our fingers in our ears and sing “la!la!la!” as we listen to their half-truths and downright lies when they take office and ask us to believe them one more time.
Let them go about fattening their own coffers as our once-exemplary model of government continues to stratify and alienate our populace.
Who will notice?
Not we, the people.
We are too consumed with our differences.
No one trusts anyone.
Certainly not the politicians.
Or the police.
Or the judicial system.
Not even our neighbors.
I voted early and I hope there is a good turnout, but trust in the process is becoming harder to muster in this age of suspicion of just about everything.
And yes, once again let me issue this caveat: as fucked-up as our country is, no matter how weak our myopic brand of microcosmic global management is, we are still better than most of the other countries on earth.
Since we are a meager trillion dollars in debt, where did it go?
If it did nothing to help our own country (AI, infrastructure, STEM) then I am sure the money helped raised countries in need to achieve higher standards of living?
Of increased peace?
Oh.
And these immigrants that are such a threat.
To what?
A job that you would do?
I bet you were pissed when you heard that fruit-picking job paying a dollar-a-day was taken by migrants!
But you want to secure the borders so they don’t what?
Go to school, get a job, succeed?
God forbid.
I have great faith in the ingenuity of man to navigate the future, but it is the human element that I fear most.
It might be some kind of computer program that launches the nuclear missiles that initiate our planets’ explosive finale, but it will be a human finger that pushes the button.
And it will be hatred and centuries-held beliefs that will rule the day.
Time erodes and even our national pride has taken its share of hits.
But we’re still here.
Let’s try something new and different for the next four years: how about we put aside everything but a willingness to move this country forward?
Whichever party loses the election start working on improving and campaigning and getting the torch passed to you in four years by grooming and mobilizing behind dynamic, bright young leaders?
I can handle stupid, bungling politicians; it’s not like the United States hasn’t had a buffoon or two hold our highest political office before.
But the divisiveness has to stop.
It only leads to one thing and it’s not good.
We’re better than that.
Start by returning one word to our language.
Civility.
It’s not OK to say, write, or do whatever you want if it is hurtful to someone else.
It is not civil.
We’re better than that.
Stay well.
