Musings

Nothing is more infuriating than watching political advertisements, which are now apparently the only advertisements airing on New England television. The thing I've noticed most is that of the commercials I've seen, only one of them actually told me to vote FOR someone. All the rest are ads painting every left-leaning politician as Nancy Pelosi's best friend, and how they're intent on destroying this country with their liberal, socialist, blah blah blah blah blah. They're presented with all the subtlety of LBJ's "Daisy Girl" ad from 1964, and they're all sponsored by patriotic sounding GOP front groups with cornball names like the "American Freedom Coalition" and "The Association of American Freedom Patriots" and "The Freedom Patriot Freedom America Liberty Justice Foundation."

I'm done. Our legislature has proven, no matter who's in power, that they have no interest in legislating in the interests of the American people anymore, and instead have become more brazen and unashamed about upholding the interests of their corporate puppet masters. Why even bother voting anymore? Save a few exceptions, no one in the legislative branch has a conscience anymore. Instead of principled and respectful debate, we get the impassioned rhetorical flash of Anthony Weiner or Michele Bachman. Sure, it plays well on television, but it is ultimately destroying any possibility of encouraging civil discourse among those with differing views, and in my experience that doesn't represent America. One of my closest friends is what I can only describe as a right wing kook (and he would probably describe me similarly), but when we discuss our politics and debate our respective positions, the first thing we do is try to find the common ground and build from there. That tactic is lost in modern discourse, and it's sad and frightening.

To bother finding someone to blame for this would only further fan the flames of this dangerous and divisive rhetoric. We just need to call a truce and start seeing how we can work together to improve the country instead of working separately to dismantle it.