Forums → WEPR → Divided We Stand

In a tradition that traces back to the early nineteen-hundreds, two parties, Democrats and Republicans, have dominated United States politics. Washington is locked in an epic and drawn out struggle betweeen left and right, red and blue, Democrat and Republican, conservative and liberal. The problem is not just limited to Washington; state and local governments see it too. These parties are seen to some as merely another set of checks and balances, keeping each other from dominating the scene.

This is wrong.

The right-left clash is the most harmful thing in politics today. More harmful than corruption, more hamful than bribery, more harmful than anything. It is so harmful because everyone simply accepts it, and doesn't think it is wrong.

I was raised to be a Republican. Everyone who knows me and has spoken with me at any length knows this. I am not a Republican. I am not registered as a Republican. I still consider myself moderately conservative, and that is acceptable. I have several beliefs that are classified for convenience's sake as 'conservative,' however, I disagree with Republicans on a great many issues. I diagree with Democrats on many issues as well. So I am independant, and will remain so.

We the people, of the Unites Statesm live in a republic. This means that we rarely directly vote on any issue. Instead, we elect representative who vote for us. This is the important part. We are supposed to elect representatives who most closely mirror out beliefs. That way, they will vote like we would vote in their position.

That means, ArmorGames Americans, that you aren't supposed to vote for a Democratic candidate because you are a Democrat, or a Republican candidate because you are a republican. Too many people forget this and merely do what their party tells them to do. Well, remember this: you run your party, your party doesn't run you.
Perhaps, you ask,

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?!

What if the Democratic candidate belives in all the things I do? Well, I reply, be honest with yourself. Do you really believe everything they believe? If you are certain, I trust you. Vote for that candidate. Congratulations, you have done what I cannot: Find a candidate you can agree with.

Regardless, we have a serious problem. I hate to drag an old sickly cliche out, but we've become more Left than Right than with RIGHT and WRONG. The politicians you have sent to Washington (I am of course speaking to those of you who've actually voted before) have decided that they will fight bitterly against the other party and leave them no quarter... this is a bad thing.

We aren't Democrats and Republicans. We aren't conservatives and liberals. We are AMERICANS. That is a bond that we cannot allow to dissolve. We can't allow petty squabbles to stop us from doing the work that needs doing. No man or woman in Washington should oppose something just because someone else supports it.

So, the people we need to send to Washington are not those who will be loyal to the Party. The people we need to send are those who will be loyal to their principles and their constituents; people who are loyal to America.

We need politicians in Washington who aren't afraid to reach across the asile and work together to solve our problems. We can't fight through our modern issues if we are divided and hostile. I am conservative, and many of my friends are liberals. That doesn't stop me from liking them. We overcome our differences to solve problems.

I hope you understand me, and will give my thoughts some weight. I won't ask you to agree with me. Make you own decisions about what you believe, but don't let our differences paralyze us.