Let's take the hate out of politics

I don’t know if the editor planned it or not, but I had to chuckle when I turned to the editorial page of last week’s paper. My column was flanked on the right by Jim Davis’ article, “Who are the hateful ones?” and on the left by Jim Fitzgerald’s piece proclaiming, “The Republicans are the hateful ones.” I didn’t laugh long. The truth is, there is plenty of hate on both sides of the aisle. The vitriolic partisanship that divides our nation is no laughing matter. We have serious issues that threaten the economic future of our country and our children, and if we don’t pull together and address those issues in an honest and forthright manner soon, we are in a world of trouble.

As a friend of mine says, politics is not a sporting event, where one team must win while the other loses. We, the people, are not mere spectators sitting in the bleachers, pulling for our favorite team to come out ahead no matter what. News anchors are not sportscasters, just reporting who is ahead in the latest poll. Government is not a game - it is deadly serious, as our leaders must confront a dangerous world and make decisions that will affect every single American for years to come.

I’m tired of politicians. Our economy is on an unsustainable path; we need statesmen who will tell us the truth about what lies ahead and what must be done to get us going in the right direction again. We need leaders who care more about this country than they do the next election.

We need a news media that does its job. Here’s a news flash for the news media – I DON’T CARE whether the Democrats will be helped or hurt by health care legislation in the next election. I DON’T CARE if the Republicans are hurt by this scandal or that. I care about how new policies and legislation are going to affect our lives. I want answers, not controversial sound bites from one politician attacking another. And enough with the spin doctors! When did government become a public relations game?

I’ve had it with the endless back and forth that goes on between Democrats and Republicans. When one party is in power, all the other party does is criticize and obstruct in every way possible. Then there is an election and power shifts from one party to the other. The parties just reverse roles, each doing the exact same things they’ve been criticizing the other for. No wonder so many people hate politics! Others are saying, “A pox on both their houses,” and threatening to “reelect nobody.” The public is losing patience with the constant bickering in Washington. It’s as though the crew of the Titanic is embroiled in a huge argument over which life boats to lower first while the ship is rapidly sinking.

We need to take the hate out of politics and start talking to one another in a civil manner. Only then can we work together to solve problems and maybe even prevent the collapse of our economy.

Republicans should stop making wild accusations about Obama, calling him everything from a communist to the Antichrist. He is a progressive liberal who seems to like the European model of government and is moving us in that direction. Conservatives can certainly attack him on those grounds, but should stop spreading rumors and emails about him being a secret Muslim or a non-citizen. People who do so destroy their own credibility, making themselves look like right-wing nut cases in the eyes of Democrats.

Democrats should stop dismissing the Tea Partiers as an angry mob or a fringe group of ignorant people who don’t think for themselves. Doing so just comes across as arrogant. Liberals need to acknowledge that many Americans have legitimate concerns about our mounting debt and the growth of big government.

It’s time to realize that we are not just Democrats or Republicans, but Americans, and we are all in this together.