It is too bad that we can’t discuss the difference in policy positions of the two major political parties in the U.S. This President has made it impossible to do so. Instead his hyperbolic language – including lies and insults – degrade any conversation to a screaming match of bumper-sticker, simplistic and charged accusations.
Here are the top ten ways this is happening today:
ISSUE
Republican Policy / How Democrats distort it
Democratic Policy / How Republicans distort it
ABORTION
Anti-abortion / Women hater
Pro-choice / Baby killer
GUNS
Pro-gun / NRA lovers
Gun-control / Communist
IMMIGRATION
Anti-immigration / Inhumane
Pro-immigration / Anti-American
THE BORDER
Secure borders / America First fanatics
Controlled borders / Open borders fanatics
DEFENSE
Strong defense / Militaristic
Measured defense / Soft on defense
TRADE
Anti-trade deals / Illogical economics
Pro-diplomatic deals / Giving away the store
BUSINESS
Pro-business / Insensitive capitalists
Pro-consumer / Socialist and communist
MEDIA
Skeptic of media / Propagandist
Pro-1st Amendment / Naive
JUDGES
Conservative judges / Stacking courts with fundamentalists
Liberal judges / Would stack courts with socialists
TAX CUTS
Tax cut for the wealthy / Pandering to the rich
Tax cut for the middle class / Income redistribution and reparations
HEALTH INSURANCE
Prefer Private health insurance / Sold out to big farma
Prefer Obamacare / Socialized medicine
Too bad. Simply too bad that we can not argue sensibly as to the merits of the different positions. And maybe – just maybe – find common ground and/or places where we intersect and could pursue legislation.
Too late. That time is gone.
We have to change the man in the White House and reclaim a sense of civility; reclaim our capacity to disagree without being disagreeable; and, respect – and dare I say trust? – each other. Dreaming? Possibly. But, rather that than despair.