I decided when I began this blog, to never, ever, ever let my personal political opinion show and I have no intention of changing that policy today; BUT, I just want to let off some steam. As with everything else in life, no one engaged in politics or the reporting of politics or the commenting on politics, seems to have any common sense.
My husband and I had a lengthy discussion about this at dinner, I say that this country is now just one big Special Interest Group, he agrees, but claims it has always been this way and I disagree. Either I was not paying close enough attention all these years or something has gone terribly wrong.
Every segment of our population seems to only be looking out for themselves and I am sure that at some time, in my lifetime, I remember hearing and feeling that this country is built on most people putting the United States before each individual’s needs, wants and goals. Clearly everyone can’t have everything they want all the time, it is a physical impossibility.
We want the best schools, with the best teachers but we don’t want to pay higher taxes. The teachers all want the best for their students, but the unions won’t make any concessions in a bad economy. We want American workers to have good high paying jobs but no one wants to pay a penny more than is necessary for anything. Large American Corporations want tax advantages, but do not want to bring plants back to this country.
People want to outlaw abortion, but there are no programs in place to teach teenage mothers about raising a baby, when you are alone and sixteen. Religious groups want a lot of freedom for their religion, but have no respect for anyone else’s.
We want health care services for all our citizens, but no one wants to have any programs in place to see who is a citizen. We make compromises in life all the time, we all do it everyday. Your spouse wants Chinese food, you want Mexican food, so you compromise on Italian! Your teenage daughter wants to wear as little as possible and you want her to dress like a nun, so she gives a little and you give a little, you’ve compromised. It’s time to buy a car you want a new Prius with everything on it, but you have to give up the solar sun roof, okay too much information! See even I can compromise.
I fear the United States is going to become like the old folk tale, two people are claiming one baby and the judge says the only way to settle the dispute is by cutting the baby in half, does that make any sense to you.
I was reading an article in Psychology Today, that recommended that older people really talk to younger family and friends, about what will really count in the end. Having social connections can add years to your life. Letting your children develop some independence. Don’t expect everything in life to always go your way, learn to roll with the punches.
I believe that we could all have very active older years if we could only communicate everything we know to upcoming generations. Most people will listen to other people’s parents before their own. So form a group that is there to help young couples cope with the world. By the time you reach sixty you have probably seen and solved every problem known to man. Use that knowledge to help others on the way up.
Let’s really watch this election and keep all the candidates on message and stop letting totally unrelated issues over shadow what you consider really important for your country.
COMMON SENSE