If you listen to foreign reporting, you'd think America is going to the dogs. And maybe they're right. But it's not for the reasons they think.
Our system of government is not the problem. The problem is that a specific group of elected representatives is not fit to be part of it.
For the record, I dislike politics — I care about solving problems, but since politics is part of that, I feel compelled to write about it. But the posturing, gamesmanship, corporate lobbying, and general disdain for truth in favor of spin are despicable to me. In the past, those were a much smaller part of politics than they are today.
In the past, when our elected representatives were found guilty of anything illegal or failed to uphold the norms of decency, truth, and democratic principles, we held them accountable. But that was before a pathological liar and sociopath with no regard for others convinced the Republican Party he belonged in the Oval Office.
Now, we have a contingent in the Republican Party that can't tell what's true anymore and doesn't seem to care as long as the money and the power stay with them.
I am not concerned about the traditional Republican principles of conservatism. I don't agree with them, but "to each his own," as they say. The problem we all face now is that our political landscape has become so perverted that our elected representatives are shoving lies down our throats to convince us not only to let go of our democratic principles but to replace them with violence and the rhetoric of hate. It has to stop. We have to stop it.
The solution
It isn't one issue; it's everything. But before we can deal with specifics, we need to get back to a foundation of trust.
If we want peace and democracy in America, we must stop the hateful rhetoric — on both sides. Republicans and Democrats alike are too busy preaching to the choir. They each target an audience of people who already think like they do. I am as guilty as the next person. But the problem is that while this intellectual exercise might make us feel better in the moment, it doesn't move us forward.
Entrenching further the already entrenched beliefs we hold isn't progress; it's repetition. We need a way to come together again.
A good place to start
I played tourist in San Francisco yesterday and wandered around Chinatown. I discovered these words of wisdom in an alley behind a Chinese restaurant.
ACCOUNTABILITY — We need to hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions. Our justice system moves slowly because it takes time to gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation. That means sometimes people commit crimes long before experiencing the consequences of those actions. But it doesn't mean accountability should be ignored until a criminal investigation leads to an indictment.
We all saw what happened on January 6. Members of Congress who refused to hold Trump accountable for his actions that day failed us. They failed us because instead of impeaching and removing him from office, they gave him permission to continue his attack on democracy. And we've all seen how well that turned out.
RESPECT— We can't save democracy without respect for each other. We don't have to agree, but we do have to respect the rights of others to make their own decisions and to live according to their own beliefs — provided those beliefs are based on reality, not manufactured constructs designed to manipulate us. If you are someone who struggles to tell the difference, click here.
UNDERSTANDING — We won't always be able to understand others, but we must try. Part of that effort requires us to acknowledge that our limitations contribute to our failure to understand others. That means we all need to work to be self-aware as well as open and available to new information — even if it's uncomfortable.
Entrenching further the already entrenched beliefs we hold isn’t progress, it’s repetition. We need a way to come together again.
LOVE — We don't have to love everyone, but if we love ourselves, it's so much easier to love others. Work on that first. If you are angry or unhappy, figure out why. Be willing to revisit your past because the clues are all there if you look closely and are not afraid to be honest with yourself. There are so many resources you can utilize: therapy, meditation, books, support groups, and more. You are responsible for your well-being. That's the one thing nobody else can do for you.
EMPATHY — We don't have to experience the same things as others to contemplate what someone else's life might be like and why they might do the things they do. Empathy is critical. Before condemning others, imagine yourself struggling with the same issues.
LISTENING — You don't have to have all the answers, but if you practice listening to others, answers will come to you. Rather than thinking about the argument you want to make, try listening to hear what's being said to you. If you can't hear what other people are saying, you will never be able to contribute to solving problems. Listen for information, not ammunition.
There are so many things we need to improve in America. Capitalism has infiltrated politics to the point where money trumps everything. Heated rhetoric designed to enrage constituents has taken over reasoned debate, and the calmer heads that should prevail are just as crazed as the rest of us. But until we return to the fundamental values of decency and respect that are the foundation of healthy relationships, we cannot breach this great divide we are confronted with today.
No amount of hand-wringing, fund-raising, finger-pointing, or gerrymandering will solve what ails us now. It is only a concerted attempt by the majority of citizens to resist the temptation to take sides and an unshakeable desire to solve problems that will allow us to return to a place where saving our democracy is possible.
We need to do this individually and collectively. We need to elect people who can lead us out of this nightmare. We need people of courage and conviction, not lemmings with their hands out.
If this divided country cannot reunite itself, it will fail. And it will not only be a failure for us here in America but ultimately, it will be a failure for everyone everywhere on this planet. We can’t let that happen.