Can’t we all just get along?

I am truly passionate about many things.

I used to voice my opinion strongly about politics, because I feel strongly about our country, my friends and family, and how we are going to survive over the rest of my life in a world that is so divided.

I STOPPED voicing my opinion so strongly because of those same reasons. I lost relationships with people I care about. My family became divided, and I was given some good advice. Let it go. Stop posting about it.

Don’t get me wrong. I still care deeply. I follow the news because I think, as Americans, we have a civic duty to BE informed so that when it comes time to vote, we have the information we need to make the decisions we are asked to, and have a RIGHT to make.

In the news recently, if you have even turned it on, right-leaning or left-leaning (and I follow both because I think it’s important to hear what both sides are saying, however maddening that can be), there have been some crazy things being reported.

I come to my point. We have the responsibility to vote. Why is our government, on BOTH sides, trying to mess with the voting system to make sure THEIR side wins?

• The gerrymandering of voting districts.
• Threatening to pull support (endorsements and financial)
• Tacking ridiculous conditions onto bills they are trying to get through the voting process in Congress or the Senate
• Changing how we vote at the Federal level (it’s the state’s responsibility)
  

There is so much payback and retribution that happens in our government, it’s a wonder anything ever gets done. In fact, it doesn’t, really, does it?

If one party is in office, they pass bills that benefit their policy goals, but as soon as they lose their power, the other party overturns as much as they possibly can of what their opponents put in place.

This isn’t unique to either party. It’s universal. I suppose it’s been this way forever in one way or another, but it does seem to be getting a lot worse over the past few decades.

So, rather than threaten their own party, or try to undo what’s been done. Rather than threaten:

• Republicans need to “get smart and tough,” Trump said, or “you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible!”

How is threatening to pull support from those whom you WANT to support you going to help anything, or get anything done?

I don’t want a billion-dollar ballroom. I don’t want a slush fund at the DOJ to pay people who assaulted police on Jan. 6, 2021. I would like to be able to afford my health insurance again, and buy food and other things we need for my family regularly. That is all I will say about my current political opinions (aside from the previously stated).

There is so much maneuvering and jockeying in our government right now that I don’t think anything will ever get done. The whole point of this post is that I think it’s important to find ways for positive change for the WHOLE country, for either party.

We are a country of immigrants, and we are that grand ‘melting pot,’ so there are bound to be differences… but can’t we all just get along… and get things done for our communities, our country, and the planet?