Calling for Common Sense Conversation!

This week has been very eventful on the political front in what is normally a really dull few weeks in August.  Dominating the headlines?  Rep. Todd Akin and his hateful, ignorant comments about rape.  With a few incredulous sentences, he blew a Senate race in Missouri wide-open, and shined a serious spotlight on the issues of abortion and women's rights----right before the Republicans meet for their pep rally in Tampa next week.  Curse? Coincidence? Calamity? Or just another week in Washington's endless campaign season?

With the myriad of problems facing the country---jobs, the deficit, immigration, energy policy, the Middle East, gas prices, education, balancing the budget, cyber security----we have been treated to endless negative ads, a hyper focus on Medicare, a skinny-dipping scandal into the Sea of Galilee, and now, a U.S. Representative, who sits on the House committee on Science- mouthing off about a woman's amazing ability to isolate hostile sperm after a "forcible" rape. It's enough to leave any sane, concerned citizen disgusted and depressed about our ability to fix our nation's problems.

So, if the do-nothing Congress won't act, and the presidential candidates are content to battle it out in the sandbox supported on all sides by their "Super PAC henchmen", I propose that ordinary citizens step in and calmly and civilly start conversing---person to person-- about what needs to be done to solve our nation's problems.  If one by one, we talk politely over our fences, in the carpool lines, in the grocery store, around the kitchen table and on-line, I think we can begin discussing ideas that can move America forward. (Don't miss No Labels ideas on what needs to be done. Visit www.nolabels.org---brilliant!) For me, I will offer just a few suggestions to start:

VOTE HYPER PARTISANS OUT. First and foremost, it's time to vote out the extremists of both parties that think compromise is a dirty word. Nearly every idea or position has some merit-no matter how small- and deserves polite consideration and respect.  These obstructionists need to be shown the door, and leave seats for those willing to actually compromise and enact common sense legislation that serves the majority of the people.

ENACT TERM LIMITS.  Money---and the loyalty it buys--- pollutes the system designed by the Founding Fathers.  While it may be naive to believe that money can ever be removed from the political arena, term limits can help mitigate the effect.  No Senator or Representative should get to serve more than 6 terms. In fact, let's be bold and set all terms---including the President's -to 6-year terms.  One per politician.  The obscene amounts of money spent every 2 or 4 years would go down, as well as the endless time campaigning.  More governing, fewer elections.

FOCUS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE NATION.  Time to get a clue.  It's not gun control, gay marriage, abortion, contraception, voter fraud, illegal immigrant identification, or even strapping your dog to the top of the car in a carrier.  It's jobs, it's unemployment, it's underemployment. It's coming up with a balanced budget that provides for what are the nation's priorities. While the other issues are important---and extremely polarizing---- they should not suck the lion's share of air from the room.  Focus is important, and demanding solutions and work from our elected representatives on what is really critical---is pivotal.

So, to encourage us to move toward practicality and away from the name-calling and defeatist politics of partisanship, I have designed this little poster above.  Perhaps if I will look at it every day, I will curb my own spicy rhetoric and really walk the walk.

We are all one.  Our differences are just details.

Is Civility Dead---or Just on Life Support?

“Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.” ~ George Washington

“Respecting others’ opinions doesn’t mean being untrue to our own.” ~ P.M. Forni

Growing up, my mom often used Disney movies, and anything else handy, to try to get her point across to me.  Like many kids, I was told that words could hurt as much as a punch and couldn't be taken back once they were said.  One of her favorite teaching moments on civility came from Bambi.  Remember this one?

Thumper: He doesn't walk very good, does he? 
Mrs. Rabbit: Thumper! 
Thumper: Yes, mama? 
Mrs. Rabbit: What did your father tell you this morning? 
Thumper: If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all. 


Today's politicians- in fact, any person engaging in political discourse- might do well to listen to Mrs. Rabbit.  We have reached such a level of hyper-partisanship where hate-filled vitriol- spewed in front of a camera- is the order of the day.  Unfortunately, very little gets done, and the crevasse between the parties fills with lies, insults and slights and grows wider each day.  All this at a time when Democrats, Independents and Republicans need to be closely working on the many problems that face our nation.  


What to do?  Perhaps a return to civility- or maybe even a slight move in that direction- is a good place to start. 

I read a great story by Dana Bash on Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland last night.  She has consistently reached out to any woman elected to the Senate and made a point of welcoming her, regardless of party affiliation.  The female senators all try to meet for dinner to get to know each other as people, rather than as opposing partisans, and have built important bridges that have withstood many ideological differences and led to important legislation. It appears they have adopted a policy of mutual respect , rather than vilifying each other because of differing positions. How refreshing! 


Yet there appears to be very little of this happening in the circus that the primaries have become. To watch the presidential candidates today is akin to watching little kids in a sandbox. Snarky soundbites and outright lies have replaced reasoned debate, and are turning off voters in droves. Instead of incessantly attacking their fellow candidates, why not take these same opportunities to highlight their positions and speak of their unique qualifications?  With Super PACS now funding a record level of negative ads, the candidates are becoming even more shrill ---making America dive for the mute button.


So I recommend we listen to Thumper's mom.  If you can't say something nice, just don't say anything at all- or better yet, talk about your own innovative ideas to get America working again.  If the candidates actually followed this suggestion, imagine how much dead air time there would be when the political ads went totally........and blessedly, silent.