I know there is a lot of angst over this election and many of the issues are complicated, but let’s see if we can simplify the problem.
The Republican Party platform or agenda can be boiled down to some basic principles.
1. There is an American Dream that has been lost–when what we actually cling to is closer to a nightmare.
2. There is a notion that somehow we have gotten away from our constitutional government—even though we have a Supreme Court that is arguably more functional than the other branches of government.
3. That somehow the earth’s resources belong to Americans—even though they belong to all of humanity—including the resources in our own country.
4. That somehow American families are no longer great–even though they never have been wholly, but can be on occasion.
5. There is a notion that fixing healthcare involves supporting the insurance industry–even though with it the profit motive reduces the amount of money that could greatly offset the cost of health care for us all. There may indeed be some painful catch-up as we all get to a place where we are paying our fair share.
6. There is a notion that somehow we are not the great power in the world we once were–even though sometimes that should not be our job when we are merely being a bully.
7. The notion that government is too big is also a common thread—when all evidence points to its not being big enough (and while it is broken, so is the private sector, we do not need to throw either baby out with the bath water). We only have to look to our crumbling infrastructure, lack of construction oversight, delays in public works, underfunded education etc. And why are these problems? Because we lack the will to pay for them.
There will always be the wrestle between what appears “socialist” and “capitalist.” But it should be clear to anyone paying attention that neither one can ever be entirely the answer. There is no reason to think we cannot be a country that does what it takes to function, use whatever means works, as opposed to beating dead horses for all eternity.
Behind the thin veil of these principles is the ugly underbelly of exclusiveness, nationalism, entitlement, religious intolerance, racial intolerance, social intolerance, bigotry, selfishness and wishful thinking.
When we have a MY and Me approach to the problems we face on the planet, and become unable to see the WE and US that is necessary, we ultimately all suffer. Sure this means we may not get what we “want” all the time but perhaps we can all get a better share of what we need.
Americans are a better people than to promote walls that will never be built, support insurance companies and corporations when they become nothing but leaches or parasites, and/or promote one religion’s views over another.
So as we all go to the poles it is important to consider which candidate is more likely to be about the MY and ME as opposed to the WE and US. Ultimately, if the planet is to survive the MYME stands to make out better if the WEUS is paramount.
The road to ruin is paved with greed, selfishness, arrogance, and ignorance. While these will always be present in whichever road we go down, let US at least attack the issues with WE and US first.
Charles Buell
While I live in the land of all things Starbucks, it never occurred to me there might actually be a very “first” Starbucks–and that one could actually “go there.”