Its All in the View

So many topics, so little time.

First of all, before I climb my soapbox, let me say unequivocally that the United States of America is the best nation in the world in which to live. That does not mean, however, that I don't occasionally fantasize about an island in the Caribbean with just the husband and the dogs where we are in charge. No rules, no laws, no nothing. (No shoes, No shirt, No problems - Kenny Chesney)

Now that we're clear on that, let the blogging begin.

This country was founded on political dissonance. A group of forward-thinking men got together a couple of hundred years ago to discuss the problems with the British monarchy. Their solution - a representative, two-party system with elected officials and three branches of government to keep the other branches in check.

Sounds good.

You know there were arguments and loud conversations and any number of ideas tossed around and debated. Late night conversations. You've all seen the drawings of the Founding Fathers in the meeting hall, fingers raised, passions evident.

So what has happened?

Now the two-party system is a dividing line. It was originally an idea to make sure that we never had a monarchy again. That one person would not determine the fate of the country without question. Now. Not so much. It is our guy against your guy. Our guy is best and shame on you for thinking otherwise.

This goes for both sides.

Problem is, we all take sides also. And our view of the situation at hand sometimes clouds our overall judgment.

For example. I get tons of political emails forwarded to me. But in today's electronic world how do you know what to believe? I remember during the election receiving an email with photos of Sarah Palin holding a gun, holding a glass of wine in a short skirt, etc. Ugly things being said about her not being fit to serve. A little research on my part (clicked on snopes.com) proved that the pictures were Photoshopped and not real. So how much else is not real? Did the current President really misspell/misspeak/misuse the word "advice" as stated in another email I received the other day? Don't know yet. The point of the email was that Dan Quayle was practically crucified for misspelling potato (with no one pointing out that he was reading a flash card that a teacher wrote) and the press is overlooking a similar mistake by President Obama. But all of these emails are sent as if they are Gospel-truth and the senders are passionate about their point of view.

We also have all the town hall meetings. When the protesters shouted down the elected officials discussing going to war in Iraq under President Bush one party embraced the protests and encouraged them. Now that people are protesting the current President's health care reform plan that same party is calling the protesters "un-American".

I don't care which side of the fence you fall on with respect to health care reform, nothing could be more American that political discourse. These debates that are currently springing up could not be MORE American.

But why do we have to take sides in quite this manner? Can't we all talk about the issues and try to meet in the middle?

Our current health care system has flaws. Anyone that disagrees with that is just being disagreeable. It costs too much, insurance is too expensive for we what we get, and malpractice lawsuits are a off the charts.

But should the government be providing it? I'm part of the generation that is pretty sure we'll never see the Social Security benefits that we will have paid for over 40 years so having another government program to nationalize health care doesn't mean a whole lot. And where in our Constitutional rights does it say that health care is a universal entitlement?

I have to say that I'm proud of both sides of our Houses for not rushing the vote on health care reform before going on vacation for the month of August. I'm very glad to see some actual thought going into this decision and the town hall meetings are inspired. Elected officials actually meeting with, and hopefully listening to, their constituents. As long as it isn't just lip service I will be impressed. I am a realist, though, so I'm reserving judgment for the moment.

It just seems that we've gotten really far from the original intent when this country was founded. All the processes were put in place to prevent one person from having absolute power. Now, it seems that one side pushes for that absolute power - as long as it is "their" guy.

So, whether you are patriotic or un-American all depends on your view. Whether or not you are a hero or villain; whether we all make it to the Promised Land or go to Hades in a handcart - all depends on your view.

I wish we could all be thinkers, listeners. Bring all the ideas to the table in a collective effort. Have our representative spend some time talking to those they represent to see what thoughts they would like presented. So many things that could be done differently, better.

And all of it would still be in the spirit of the original intent of those wonderful men who had a plan, a dream, a vision of a better government.

Men with a view.