It's Not Me, It's You

Last night, after Wee One woke me up at 3 am, I could not go back to sleep.  My mind was racing all sorts of places...and in some sort of sleep-deprived craze, my mind turned to politics.  Shocking, I know. 

I started thinking about what it is about politics that gets people so fired up and passionate.  Why does it bring out the worst in people?  Why do we disagree so vehemently on political issues?  Why is it so divisive?

Are we passionate about issues because we really believe in the issue or because we just want to be "right?"  Do we really believe the things we say we do, or do we think them just because some politician or pundit told us to? 

These were the questions plaguing me.  So follow me here through my half-conscious thinking...   

For me, there are a lot of reasons why politics get me revved up.  Above all, I think I can sum it up this way:  political outcomes impact my life in a very real way.  And I don't want the vote and opinions of other people (some of whom I believe to be very uneducated on the issues) to impact my life.  It's a sad statement of the scope and overreach of government when we actually fear the far-reaching effects of elections.   The federal government has its grubby little hands in practically everything. And that's scary. From the bedroom to the boardroom, it has a say in almost everything we do. 

This is why a republic only survives when the people are good. And we've strayed a bit from that goodness...which is why the republic has become more scary.  It's scary when the ill-informed, illiterate, and immoral population in my country get to make decisions that affect my life! 

Their votes can prohibit me from keeping the insurance and healthcare I want.
Their votes impact the education of my children--what they're taught, where they're taught, and who teaches them. 
Their votes can take away my hard-earned money so they can give it to some one or some cause they think is more deserving of it than I. 
Their votes impact how much I pay for gas at the pump and for food at the store. 
Their votes impact how much debt my children are going to inherit. 
Their votes impact my own personal, financial, and national security. 
Their votes can fundamentally transform this amazing country into something I don't want it to be.
Most importantly, their votes deprive me of my God-given rights and liberties.

The list could go on and on.  Of course, there are those on the opposite side of the political spectrum who fear the outcomes of my votes on various things.  I understand that it goes both ways.  For example, they'd argue that my votes could keep them from getting an abortion, or keep them from getting married, or will ruin the entire earth.  Because I want dirty air and water.  And I want to kill the polar bears.  Did you know that? 

But when people ask me why I get so fired up about public policy issues, I want to scream at them"How can you not get fired up about them?!"  Sadly, politics impacts almost everything we do!  It shouldn't be that way.  It was never intended to be that way.  But it is.  The federal government should never have become so involved in the citizens' lives.  But it has.   

As much as I disagree with raging liberals, and can not, for the life of me, understand why they see some things the way they do, I can at least respect them for having a position on issues.  It's the apathetic ones that drive me nuts.  The ones that are just like..."Meh.  Whatever.  What time does 'The Bachelor' start?"  Care a little about your life, maybe.  Do us all a favor and take the time to educate yourself ...just a tad. 

There is obviously too much vilification of those we disagree with and too much fighting and game-playing by our legislators.  They need to figure out how to just do what is right for the country instead of what is right for their party or their re-election chances.  It's become a joke--and if it weren't so serious, it would be hilarious.  A little more civility is definitely required.  That doesn't mean that we don't care about issues passionately.  It just means that we recognize that we are all fellow Americans living in this crazy world together.  And that we're better when we focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.  It means we don't keep calling each other names and accusing others of "hate" when they have a different viewpoint and perspective.  That's my favorite.  Oh, if I had a dime for every time I've been told that I'm a hater...either because I'm a conservative, or because I'm a Mormon, or because I'm a Republican, or because I may or may not have attended a tea party or two..... 

So, yes.  I care about politics.  Cuz, like the saying goes, elections have consequences.  And those consequences affect me.  And more importantly, they affect my children.  So, yeah.  It's personal.