Division is weakening the U.S.

Published 9:13 am Friday, October 13, 2023

This might get a little pointed today, so if you are a big supporter of either of our political parties and your feelings are easily bruised you might be better off stopping right here.

For the first time in my life, I am downright embarrassed regarding where we as Americans are being led by our political leaders. I don’t know that I’ve ever witnessed such a vacuum of leadership from the very people we, the people, have elected to lead us — and honestly, I don’t know that our nation has ever seen that vacuum worse than it is right now.

Republicans, this means you. Democrats, this means you. What I am saying here today has absolutely nothing to do with any individual party, and I don’t want to hear any of that “I don’t know what you’re talking about” fertilizer that is sure to come from the brainwashed defenders of both sides either. You are each equally responsible and guilty, whether you’ll admit to it or not.

Both of you have allowed our position as the brightest beacon of hope to be found on the hill of this poor world to be compromised, and all because of your selfish partisanship. Even worse? You’ve allowed yourself to be completely blinded to the tsunami of rubbish the men and women leading you astray have created that the rest of us, the regular folks of this nation, are having to deal with in our everyday existence.

I dare you, on either side, to actually man up and take some responsibility — if anybody on either one of your ‘sides’ still has enough guts and/or integrity left to do so. Think about it — when was the last time you actually heard a politician say they screwed something up but would learn from it and do better next time? You know — like normal people do almost every day?

I just thought the political stupidity in this nation was bad under Obama. Then under Trump I watched it fester even deeper and was sure it couldn’t get any worse. It is now clear I was wrong on both counts.

The hard reality of the matter is the souls of both parties have been hijacked by extremists. The voices representing both are rooted in the extremes on the left and right, with all voices of moderation or reason smothered out in the process.

Last time I checked, two wrongs still don’t make a right. and you mark my words, the apologists that have empowered and fueled those extremes will be the first ones to try justifying the wrong ‘their side’ has been doing since the other ‘side’ is ‘more’ wrong.

You see, that’s the problem. The soul of this nation doesn’t exist in your extremes. The overwhelming majority of us are sick and tired of your ‘sides’. America isn’t about ‘sides’. This isn’t some kind of stupid ‘Survivor’ reality show. This is our nation we’re talking about, and we, the people, flat out deserve better than you’ve been able and/or willing to give.

For me, nobody on either side deserves my vote. All I see and hear on the national stage are hypocrites and egomaniacs who clearly care more about their self-serving interests and their ‘side’ than they do the country they are supposed to be leading.

I’m in regular communication with friends overseas in places like England, France, Australia, and even Russia. It’s downright embarrassing to even bring up American politics. To a person, their reaction to our ‘leaders’ here is singular: “Is this the best America can do?”

If it’s not, then shame on you, ‘leaders,’ for not doing better. If it is, then shame on us, America, for allowing us to ever get to this place. Either way, there’s plenty of shame and blame to go around — but correcting it starts with us, me and you.

There are so many examples of just how badly you’ve led us they can’t be listed here today. I know none of you will admit to any of it, but trust me, anyone with one eye and two working neurons knows all too well the truth, and not one of us likes it. You want to know why ‘none of the above’ is the most popular pick among American voters for the first time in our history? Find a full-length mirror and take a long, deep look into it.

Your willful choice to anoint your ‘side’ as the all-knowing, all-righteous, “we’re right about everything and if you don’t believe it just ask us” stance in America is weakening and breaking the U.S. down, and us along with it.

The path to healing and rediscovering the true heart of this nation will not be found out on the extremes of either of your ‘sides.’ It will be found somewhere between them, but only if the people of this nation are wise and brave enough to rightfully ignore you and your ‘sides’ and choose a path that allows us to all travel together — as a nation.

There’s an old saying that reads something like ‘lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.’ Since it’s clear none of you appear capable of leading and are clearly not willing to follow, that leaves one option.

And personally, I’m ready to see every single one of you kicked to the curb.