Dangerous Game

As a society and a people, we play a dangerous game when we refuse to listen to opinions and beliefs contrary to our own.

When we do that, we insulate ourselves from new ideas, new thoughts and most importantly, an understanding of those with opposite viewpoints on important issues.

The only way true progress can be made is through knowledge, understanding and compromise made to benefit the common good.

Otherwise, the entire political process is reduced to nothing more than a competition pitting one set of beliefs against another; no forward progress is achieved and the only tangible results are hurt feelings, broken relationships and a power structure that remains in place, pleased to have pit the populace against itself and remaining ignorant as they continue to accumulate more power and wealth. According to our Constitution, we live in a democracy governed by the people who holds the power to monitor and keep our elected officials in check and working for our benefit.

Unfortunately, for too long now we've been so focused on squabbling with other over our different beliefs instead of listening and learning from each other, all we've done is played into the hands of those in power, keeping ourselves distracted from larger issues and problems which is exactly what they want. They want to keep us focused on berating each other for thinking and believing differently because it takes the focus of our intellect and common sense off of them. We spend our energy ripping each other apart instead of questioning and taking part in our own governance.

It's long overdue we stop bickering with each other and turn our attention toward those we've elected and demand better representation and some intelligent, well reasoned and common sense laden legislature. We as a people need to take a more active role in how our country is run and how our elected leaders represent us. We need to command our leaders to stop the infighting, end the partisan politics and discontinue the business as usual approach of backslapping each other while they short sightedly line their own pockets as they ignore the future ramifications of their selfish decisions. We need to demand they start governing for the good of everyone, not just an elite few.

But the only way any of this will ever happen is if we, as a people, stop attacking each other and get involved in our own country in a positive, well reasoned fashion. Because if we're too busy fighting ourselves, who is left to watch those holding office and making decisions that affect our lives?