Civility

The political process is terribly broken. Decades of two party polarization has led to a level of incivility not seen here in my lifetime. Republican and Democrat politicians and their families are harassed in public. A Republican congressman has been physically assaulted in his own yard. Another, and those with him, were shot at a softball game. Toxic chemicals have been mailed to politicians on both sides of the aisle. Now pipe bombs have been mailed to multiple prominent Democrats. Agitators from both sides going all the way to President and presidential candidates have advocated aggression be used against those that don't agree with them. Each side blaming the other. Reasonable discourse seems completely unattainable. Our chickens have come home to roost.

Election cycle after election cycle (and there's no longer a break at all between them) politicians from both sides have gone from slinging mud to preaching outright hatred and fear. It energizes the bases, and it builds every year. Both the "left" and the "right" are hell bent on ensuring that their party is the one that wields power and control over us. It is a winner take all high stakes game that tolerates no dissent and silences any voice of reason. And we are all the poorer for it.

It was never supposed to be this way. Our republic was established with Constitutional limitations that were designed to prevent our government from ever gaining this much power, much less adding more to it. The people are supposed to rule. Political parties are not in the Constitution. George Washington warned of he dangers they would pose. We should have heeded the warning. We might have avoided the Civil War and found peaceful solutions to the problems that needed to be solved. We might not be where we are today.

We need to start doing something differently. We need to start voting differently. Half of all registered voters have become so fed up with the process they don't even vote. Just as many don't even register. We can change the process. We can fix this. Start voting for who a candidate is, instead of voting against an opponent. Stop judging folks by a party label that may or may not reflect a candidates beliefs. Pay attention to what candidates do instead of what they say. It will take some effort on your part, but worth the effort. Stop voting out of fear, and vote instead out of pride. If your chosen team or party doesn't field a candidate you can be proud of on their own merits, vote for another candidate. Find another party. The more parties the better. Multiple candidates from multiple parties mean it is much harder for any one party to gain the power and control that corrupts them. Multiple candidates from multiple parties means you can't have the polarization 2 sides bring. Three or more sides prevent polarization. Three or more sides takes power away from the parties and gives it back to the people, where it belongs. In short order, all parties would be forced to change. Forced to start nominating candidates people would be willing vote for instead of against. Forced to stop preaching fear and hate. Forced to be civil and reasonable so we can have good government, and peaceful elections. Give peace a chance here. Vote for real change in November.