Yo, America, you’ve made your point. You’ve been heard loud and clear. You’re furious, fed up and misunderstood. And you’re not going to take it anymore. Got it. All of social media, most of mainstream media, the few political establishment players who pay attention, and every one you’ve spoken to in the past year knows that you HAVE HAD IT.
But as one of my super-wise friends says, “So what? Now what?”
In the aftermath of last week’s Republican presidential convention, you have me more confused than ever. You didn’t want an “establishment” candidate, but Donald Trump’s pick of uber-establishmentarian Mike Pence as his VP, that’s OK? You decry constitutional impurity but approve of banana-republic-esque (and clearly unconstitutional) proposals to regulate the press or behead Hillary Clinton for presumed, unproven guilt? You profess to deeply love America, but tolerate and occasionally applaud expressions of hatred toward fellow Americans of different races, religions, or beliefs?
Gallup reports that 69 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States right now, so clearly lots of us have concerns, even if we disagree strongly with one another about what those concerns might be. But, it’s hard to figure out how to fix things when folks are whipped up by media pros and politicians who know exactly how to escalate our fears and anguish until we’re in a frenzy and calling for blood.
Tired of an EPA that cares more about wolves and dead trees than your livelihood?
Fed up with politicians that tell you they’ve got your back then adopt tax and trade policies that leave you behind so their donors can get further ahead?
Frustrated with political/media-speak that focuses more on the future of foreigners than you and your kids?
Worried about terrorism but the thought of sending your kids to fight ground wars in countries you don’t give a hoot about makes you seethe?
Then stop the crazy and say so. Calmly. Enough with the yelling, blaming and jail-mongering. Are you listening to fast-talking politicians and media types who scream in your ear all the platitudes you want to believe and promise to love you tomorrow? You know what your mother would say about that right? There’s no easy way. Heck, there’s no way around this, we’re going to have to break a serious sweat while we plow through or American democracy may perish. Seriously. When the frenzy subsides, we’re all going to have to do the hard work of building a consensus and crafting policies that address our problems. That’s the American way you profess to care so deeply about. You’ve been heard. Now let’s get down to business.