Gridlocked. Divided. Dysfunctional. Broken. Out of touch. Rigged. Polarized.
Everyday these words are used to describe our national political and social climate.
From average Americans to political leaders, few people express any visage of hope or optimism in their nation, political parties, or economy. Americans’ faith in their form of government and the people who run it is lower than ever before and their discontent is palpable. The news coverage of campaigns, shootings, and protests play up the seeming brokenness of America.
But you already knew that.
If you’re like me, you have seen the discontent and pessimism at your workplace, with your friends, and in your classroom. You have listened to conversations about broken parties, flawed government, and ignorant protesters. You have even nodded along occasionally. As we launch into another rhetoric-charged election year and engage in our quadrennial political event, these conversations around the dinner table or water cooler are bound to continue with their angry, pessimistic tenor.
While political conversations are essential to American politics and while there are many topics warranting spirited debate, we should not persuade ourselves that these problems are Armageddon-in-waiting or even that our problems are greater than ever before. We should not begin to believe that everything in this country is broken beyond repair.
So here is a little sanity for your day's political discussions.
The next president, Republican or Democrat, will not be willing or able to destroy you and everything you hold dear. All presidents moderate in the Oval Office. So relax about the wall, the emails, the guns, and the refugees.
With two hundred years of tradition behind us, President Obama’s successor will be forced to work with Congress to achieve his or her goals and you can still vote for a congressperson or senator who you actually like and who believes what you do.
There are many political leaders to be inspired by on both sides of the aisle who are quietly doing great public service. Senator Elizabeth Warren is fighting relentlessly to prevent the next Great Recession. Speaker Paul Ryan is working hard to unify his party and drive a discussion about ending property. Senator John McCain and Secretary John Kerry are working hard to protect American interests abroad and promote peace in conflict-torn regions of the globe.
The gun debate is a heated topic, but remember that most pro-gun voters use their weapons safely and that most gun-control voters believe in your right to carry a gun. So you can stop worrying about Hillary knocking at your door to take your handgun and try to smile at the concealed carrier with the gun on his hip.
There are thousands of valiant police officers who uphold the law everyday in this country. Thank them for being willing to serve and to be held to a higher standard of conduct.
Many protesters, no matter their anger at the system or their frustration with the process, believe that things can change for the better and see a path to that end. Take a breath and believe with them. Sometimes it takes yelling in the streets to force a change; that takes bravery and hope.
In these last few weeks and months, being an American may have seemed like a saddening or burdensome label. It might have seemed like our nation is spiraling into chaos, but I refuse to believe that somehow America’s best days are over and that our problems are insurmountable. I refuse to accept that frustration and anger are indicative of looming national catastrophe. I refuse to give up on America’s ability to deal with our problems head on and come out better.
Our nation is not so broken that it cannot be fixed. We are not so angry that we cannot find solutions. We are not so divided that we can never agree again.
