Still sick, but of politics

How did we get where we are today? Why is it like this?

Why can't people actually discuss the important issues facing the country today? Why does it have to always turn into a breathtaking display of egotism, close-mindedness, and media-programmed prejudices?

For instance, you mention to a Democrat that you don't think the government should support the systematic killing of infants, or to a Republican that you plan to vote for a Democratic candidate. The immediate response is more or less, "What?! Are you crazy? They've gotten to you, haven't they! I don't want anything to do with you, LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE NUT-JOB!" Why isn't it ever, “Wow. Though I don't agree with that, I know you are a rational person. Please tell me why you feel that way." Has political discourse devolved to such an extent that you can't have a conversation with anyone without immediately being branded a liberal or a conservative? Isn't that too simplistic?

And why do we have the need to devote ourselves to one of the two political parties (and yes, there are only two parties that control our nation), both of which are filled with pettiness, personal ambition, and pursue ulterior motives not aligned with those of the people they supposedly represent? Isn't there something misguided by throwing all your support and trust behind an organization driven by such faulty principles? It just seems to me that most people tend to lose a good deal of objectivity and common sense when they become a Democrat or a Republican. A few illustrations:


Capital Punishment-

The Dems say capital punishment is a barbaric practice that no civilized nation should be a part of. And then they support the wide scale killing of babies. What's missing there?


Welfare and Health Care-

The Reps claim they honor and champion Christian values. In fact, they throw this about like their party has the actual endorsement of Heaven itself. But isn't one of Jesus' most repeated teachings HELP THE POOR? Give to the poor?

Now the faithful Republican will immediately chime in here with "Yeah, but God wants us to be self-sufficient. You have to work for what you get." That's true. And by saying this they are implying that every poor person is poor because they are lazy, stupid, and blow their money on TVs and alcohol. But not us. No, we're rich because we work hard and we're better people. Being born into wealth and privilege had nothing to do with it.

Of course there are some people who will take advantage of charity. Jesus knew this. And He told us to do it anyway. When does He ever say, "Give to the poor, but only the ones who really deserve it. And since you can't tell who they are, better just give that money to the tobacco and gun industries instead"? But isn't this what the Repubs do? Can someone explain that?

There is no way the majority of middle and upper class Americans work harder and more hours than the average honest Mexican immigrant, legal or illegal. No way.

You hear it all the time and I think it's true: If Jesus came back and ran for office, most Republicans would reject him because he doesn't uphold their "conservative Christian values".


Gun Control-

Reps: We need guns! It's in the Constitution! The Founding Fathers specifically wanted US TODAY to have automatic rifles! We need to keep King George out of our homes!

Dems: No guns. Most guns only kill family members of the owner, anyway. Therefore no one should be able to choose whether or not they keep a gun in their house. Americans just aren't responsible enough to make a choice that involves the lives of others. Oh, but abortion? That they can choose.

War-

Again with the Repubs and Christianity: Pre-emptive strikes. Getting them before they get us. Taking revenge on all of radical Islam and the countries that harbor them. Like Iraq.

What happened to "turn the other cheek" and "blessed are the peacemakers"? Richard Gere was booed shortly after 9/11 for suggesting that we needed to forgive and let go of the hate to get on with our lives. Now, I am the last person to suggest that we should be listening to what Hollywood says, but in this situation the celebrity was right. And he got booed. Then Rush Limbaugh replayed the clip so he could deride him. It just seems the people who claim to be "Christian Conservatives" are somewhat selective of which teachings in the Bible they will follow. Kind of like some people with the Qur'an.


Those are just a few that came to mind. Though there are enough hypocrisies in both parties to write a whole book on.

This is what disillusions me the most about politics today: We're so divided, how can anything actually get done? You've got Congressmen getting paid $150K to work 90 days out of the year. When they are working they're so gridlocked by ego and conflicting special interests that we applaud like the parents of a bratty 2-year old who finally lets another kid play with the toy truck if they actually work together and get something done. Meanwhile the rest of the country is busy listening to pontificating blowhards like Limbaugh, Savage, Coulter, and others who make their fortunes by turning us on one another, dividing us into US and THEM--the latte-sipping, tree hugging, NPR-loving, baby-killing liberals or the gun-toting, SUV-driving, fanatical, jingoistic neo-cons. And we willingly divide into these camps, in turn losing all sense of cooperation and appropriateness and becoming as objective and rational as a group of drunken Yankees and Red Sox fans.

Isn't anybody else fed up with this?

As usual, the crass and immature Jon Stewart is the lone voice of reason in this chaotic time.