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Partisan Politics are Destroying
Our Nation
August 2004- little has changed in my view...
In the past decade, a new war has emerged that has done more
to destroy the future of our nation than any other fought
before. The war is one of rhetoric, innuendo and partisan
pandering between the two primary political parties. It has
now grown to such a level of devastating destruction of our
commons goals that almost all citizens have become "drafted"
into choosing sides.
The "Freedom of Speech," one of our most treasured
rights as Americans, has become a dangerous weapon in a struggle
of perceived ideals and power at the Federal and State levels.
Now, the simple label of "conservative" or "liberal"
has come to define the flashpoint of partisan battles fought
more for the sake of winning an argument, than seeking real
answers and solutions for the issues we face as Americans
in the 21st Century.
The Presidential race of 2004 has done more to deepen the
division between the "Left" and "the Right"
than any other in recent history. The race has become a wasteland
of innuendo, misrepresentation and baseless cliché
while ignoring the pressing issues that should be the focal
point of the election. Both parties have decided that winning
the arguments over Swift boats, medals or service in National
Guard are more important that running a campaign based on
real solutions to the issues of the Middle East conflict,
health care reform, the National Deficit, and our domestic
economy.
Even worse, news media organizations, once believed to be
the reporters of fact, have helped fan the flames of conflict
by playing the rhetorical ambush "Gotcha!" game
of turning inane half-truths and innuendo into "breaking
news."
The media has helped to draw the battle lines. Today, as part
of your "Ritual of Induction" into a selected political
party, you can also select your brand of media talking head
to support your views. If you are a fan of Fox News, or an
ardent listener of Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, you will
hear the daily "talking points" of the Republican
Party quoted Bible and Verse. If you have seen "Fahrenheit
9-11," think that everything Bill Moyers has to say is
"right on," and know in your heart of hearts that
NPR "is fair and balanced with no agenda," you have
been inducted into the new, aggressive, angry Neo-Liberal
world of politics.
Not since the early days of our country when "Pamphleteering,"
the practice of publishing and distributing slanderous, half-truths
about your political adversaries became so bad it necessitated
the passing of "The Sedition Act of 1798," has the
written word been used so effectively as a political weapon.
The "Best Seller Lists" are dominated by the latest
tomes of Partisan hatred. These "Non-Fiction" biographies
and collections of political essays are all rushed to print
in order to facilitate the shaping of media headlines and
talk show appearances by the authors in a timely manner.
Who benefits from this new rush to create controversy and
scandal? The media companies. Revenues from publishers, 24
hour news channels, and special "network news magazine
shows" are rocketing. The losers in this new form of
capitalistic exploitation of the "need to know the latest
political dirt," are the American people. The constant
attention and hype of issues that do not matter in the future
of our nation (30-year-old military records come to mind)
have done nothing but create diversion from the real issues
and deepened the chasm between the people of our nation. Politics
are the new religion and national blood sport combined into
a frenzied "whose team are you on" struggle that
may ultimately destroy our country.
If we as Americans hope to face the challenges of the 21st
century as a unified nation, it is time to start looking for
the things that bring us together, and stop focusing on the
things that drive us apart. This nation was founded on the
principles of new freedom for a "melting pot" of
religions, ideologies and races. Today, more than 200 years
since the founding of our government, instead of "one
Nation Under God, Indivisible," the arguments over God's
definition of human life, the right for our country to "spread
freedom throughout the world," and even the right to
use God's name in public threaten to divide what was once
"indivisible."
It's time to begin looking toward what we have in common.
It's time to realize that no political party will offer any
real solutions to the issues we face if the primary objective
of that party is simply to win power and control. We need
to begin holding our nation's leaders accountable for their
actions no matter what party they claim. We need to start
electing leaders who focus on issues, and do not allow the
"professional political handlers" to hijack campaigns
and take them down the road of innuendo, slander and slime.
We need to begin questioning the need for media "talking
heads" who make their livings from creating and perpetuating
political conflict. In short, we need to stop seeking a "W"
in the win/loss column of political arguments and begin seeking
answers and solutions that benefit all Americans, regardless
of party affiliation.
If we continue to build walls on either side of the road to
progress, ultimately nobody in the future will be left with
a country built on the strength of a unified nation. The masons
of division are political parties, partisan media and professional
agitators who benefit from conflict. It's time for the American
people to begin building our own road together toward a future
that is inclusive for all our citizens. That must begin with
a pledge to be a truly "United Stated of America."
United toward equality. United toward fair and equal treatment.
United toward solving conflict rather than creating it. And
United in our effort to stop those who would drive us further
apart for their own gain.
Partisan politics are a battle with no real winners, except
those who benefit from keeping conflict alive. The media,
professional political mercenaries, and the individuals and
companies served by both, must be held accountable. Our government
that is "Of the People, By the People, and For the People,"
should once again begin serving ALL of the people. Our differences
make us Americans, but our unity will make us strong.
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