Here is the thing: I’m a Republican (as you’ve noticed). But I’m not a Tea Partyist. So I love John Boehner, but I can’t handle Rand Paul. I’m not on the far right; I’m in the middle. I’m moderate. I support the National Endowment for Humanities, but I also support the right to bear arms. I’m pro-life, and I see the need for public schools. I’m a moderate conservative Republican. I’m happy to be a Republican. I feel that it’s the party that best represents me, that best matches my view of the role of government. I tell myself that in the GOP, there are more people like me than not.
The other thing is, I don’t like conflict. I just don’t like it. I don’t like it when kids tease each other, I don’t like it when people are angry at me, and I don’t like believing that half of the nation (The Democrats) is some brand of evil I cannot trust. Call me naive, call me foolish. It’s just the way it is. I like to believe they are good people, too, just with a different sense of things. So when Obama says something about working together, about the mission itself being the key thing, about overcoming some differences even if we can’t bridge every gap, I want to applaud.
So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong. -State of the Union 2012
I agree with that. I may have certain moral views that don’t correlate with other Americans’, but we all think the economy needs to be fixed. I want Congress to work around the differences they can’t bridge and compromise on the ones they can.
But I feel like Washington doesn’t want me to want that. I feel this sort of pressure to stay locked into a stalemate. To hate the Other Side. When Obama calls for unity and teamwork, I feel like the Republicans are not supposed to agree with that. But why not? That is what I want. I’m not trying to betray my party. I’m not saying I’ll vote for Obama. I don’t suddenly support Obamacare or abortion. I just… I support working together. I think Obama has some bad ideas, but this one is good. And I support this good idea. Why isn’t that ok?
I want Congress to work together. I don’t think working together means we just do things my way. I think working together means we do things some my way and some your way. We may not like the whole solution, but we both agree its better than no solution at all. But it seems like Congress doesn’t want me to believe that. They want me to think that no solution is a sign of strength or firmness, of loyalty. (But they all have jobs, and can pay their bills, buy groceries, etc., so, ya know.) And I just really struggle with that. I don’t like the idea that I’m supposed to be more loyal to my party than my country. For the record, both parties pressure their constituents the same amount: Democrats are supposed to resist giving into Republicans, and Republicans are supposed to stand firm against the Democrats. THEY are the enemy, you know.
Only, I don’t know that. I don’t think they are. I think unemployment and a crumbling economy are the enemy.
This country is in trouble, and something needs to be done—soon. Sooner than soon. Like yesterday-was-too-late soon. And I don’t understand all the pressure to demonize the other side. What does that accomplish? Absolutely nothing, if we look at 2011. Stalemate after stalemate. Lack of progress after more lack of progress. Nothing begetting nothing. Ad nauseum.
So, Washington, since you tried stalemates and it didn’t work, why not try compromise and see how that goes. Why not try seeing the strength in other ideas, the virtue in the other side—there is some, you know, on both sides. Ok, so in the end, neither side will get everything they want. But we’ll all—all the people NOT in Congress, all the people who do struggle with joblessness, rising prices, and debt—we all get something. That’s a start, and in my book, it counts for a lot. It’s what we elected you to do: to make sure we got something, not to make sure the other side didn’t.
