Politics

Dear Elli,

Politics are weird.  Election years are super weird.  This particular election year is the weirdest shit I've ever seen in my life.  

If you watch the news, any channel at all, you would think we're so divided that Civil War II is about to break out in the streets any second.  You would think we are all radical psychos representing one of only two possible political ideologies so far apart that there is no possible middle ground.  The end is near!  Two choices people!  You're either a psycho who wants everything for yourself or a psycho who wants to give everything away for free! 

This is pretty much what the media says is happening.  And for the people who latch onto the media's representation of who we are, this is reality.  Unfortunately, A LOT of people believe that this is who we are.  So this is exactly who they become.

We see it all over social media.  Every day.  Republicans are racist, bigoted, misogynistic, greedy assholes.  And Democrats are stupid, overly-sensitive, constantly offended, weak, socialist morons.  

Our media is polarizing, our political outbursts on social media platforms are polarizing, and now quite a few of our politicians are polarizing.  We are really weird right now. 

Now let me tell you what I think about all this.  

I think it's total bullshit.  I think this idea of overwhelming division is complete and utter bullshittery.  

It's happening on TV and all over social media, but it's not happening on any relevant scale in real life.  Not that I can see.

I talk to people every day.  I work with people every day.  Lots of people.  I travel to other cities and I talk and work with those people, too.  I have friends and acquaintances at every end of every spectrum:  political, racial, and economic.

I think the media is playing us like a fiddle.  And they're square dancing all the way to the bank.  

I'm not suggesting people don't have different points of view.  They absolutely do.  I'm not suggesting we're all the same.  We're not.  I'm not even suggesting we can all get along all the time.  We can't.   

Here's what I am suggesting:  Most people want what's best for our country.  Most people understand that differences in opinion are a fundamental part of what makes our country great.  Most people are rational.  Most people fall somewhere in the middle.  Most people are not very polarizing at all.

Notice I didn't say most Republicans or most Democrats?  I said most PEOPLE.  Because that's what we are.  We're people, and most of us are doing the best we can, every single day, to do what we think is best for ourselves, our families, and our country.  Period.  That's what I see every single day.  Everywhere I go.

I'm a Democrat.  I'm not weak, stupid, lazy, or a socialist.  Your dad is a Republican.  He's not hateful, greedy, racist, or an asshole (most of the time).  

I'm not going to pretend we don't have some pretty passionate "discussions" from time to time.  We do.  I've even considered smothering him with a pillow while he sleeps.  I would never actually do that because orange doesn't look good on me.  (And also because I love him.)

But aside from our passionate "discussions", when you really break down our fundamental beliefs, we're not really that different.  And when I have those same discussions every day with family, friends, coworkers, clients, and even total strangers, the result is the same.  Most of the time we're not fundamentally very different.  

I don't know what it will take to stop all this weirdness.  My best idea is to invite everyone to our house for hot dogs and Miller Lite in the back yard.  Everyone gets along and has fun over hot dogs and Miller Lite in our back yard.  But we don't have enough room.  And it's February in Northeast Ohio.

My next best idea is to find a sensible candidate, whatever that means for you.  Vote for them.  And then stop being weird.   

And for the love of God, don't believe the freaking TV.  Or Facebook.  I mean, come ON!  It's difficult to find a real selfie on Facebook, let alone real information.  

Believe what you see every single day in real life and with your own eyes.  Believe in your family, your friends, your coworkers, your clients, and the perfect strangers you meet every day.  That's real.  And THAT'S America.  

I love you.

Mom