Conflict

Criss Angel and David Blaine. Pepsi and Coca Cola. Verizon and Cingular.

I am oh kay with conflict- it is easy to cope with, when it is a competition between two up and coming magicians, or between drink companies, or between cellular companies. Humans are born that way- you must fight with your neighbor. It's a rat race, one that involves always being one up on the competition. Your neighbor gets that shiny new lawnmower, you get a ride-on. Your neighbor gets a Pontiac Solstice, you get the newest Jag. He gets a 60 inch flat screen television, you get the 62-er. It is human nature.

But what happens when the competition goes a little too far? What happens when the people who are supposed to be coinciding with each other, the ones that really need to, are the ones that fight more than anyone.

Yes, I am talking about our politicians.

Our politics have become so drenched in partisan values that it always seems to be a competition, with the losers ending up to be the American People. We should see our elections- House of Representatives, Senate, and Presidential- as a way to have an open discussion about the future of America. Either side should be coming to the table with their plan, and saying: "Oh kay, American People, this is what we got. Now, Mr. Opponent, let's talk about what we each have, and find a way to meet a central solution." Instead, we have opponent bashing. We have these two sides that have become so partisan that nothing gets done. There is a reason the Democrat-controlled Congress can't do anything- they can't stop fighting with the other side!

This is a huge problem in America. Elections and terms, which should be the times for debate, discussion, and revival, have become times of war between sides, and gloating for two years. That is all that happens in America- the winners gloat, the losers mourn, and while these people are doing whatever their respective sides must do, nothing gets done. Forget the War on Terror, we have a War For Power in America!

I don't understand this. I know that liberals get into the government and do things that go under the "liberal" label, and conservatives do the same. But we are a country where, and correct me if I am wrong, but where we can have an open discussion and have varying ideas. If both a liberal and a conservative gets elected to Congress, that should send the message that we have both liberal and conservative (and central) people living in this nation, and so ALL of their ideals should be taken into consideration. Meaning, during debates, yes, we should definitely stick to our beliefs, what we think is best, and all of that. But, once we have made all of that perfectly clear, we need to sit with the other side. In order for America to be ran as it SHOULD, we must pass bills that make both sides happy. It is not a difficult thing. Take parts of both of the arguments and incorporate them into a bill. There are one or two issues that I think would not be able to go under this ideal (namely, the War in Iraq and torture), but most of them can.

We are a nation that PRIDES itself in being diverse. "The Melting Pot". If we truly have pride in our differences, we need to focus on both arguments of the debate, and come to a solution that, while not filling in the gap we have between partisanships, atleast gives us a bridge to meet together.

Only then will America prosper and our Republic be achieved.

For our Democracy to be achieved? Well...that will take a little more than a change in mere partisan politics.