The 2020 Election and Reconciliation

Depending on the success or failure of President Trump’s legal cases, Joe Biden is set to be the next president. During a speech recently, President Elect Biden mentioned that we need to consider the other side of the political spectrum as our opponents, not our enemies. This mirrors what I’ve been saying for years. We need to debate ideas, not people.

I think most Americans agree with me when I say that this constant bickering with the other side has exhausted us. It’s either the left criticizing the right for all being racists, or the right criticizing the left for being snowflakes. It needs to stop. It won’t happen overnight, and it will ONLY happen if we all, as one nation, agree to lighten the fuck up.

Let’s start with the left. What do you think of Trump voters? I bet you think they are all racists, bigots, militia Nazis. Why do you think Trump got so many votes? You assume it’s because they are racist and wanted to support Trump’s racists ideas. Isn’t it possible that they liked his (temporary) tax cuts? Maybe they bought into Fox’s constant barrage of fear mongering. They actually believe that the government will take away their guns. They actually believe that Biden (a practicing Catholic) will ban church. They actually believe that their way of life is threatened. Isn’t it possible that they didn’t vote FOR Trump, so much as they voted AGAINST those “threats”? Perhaps they are simply party minded and voted for the Republican candidate, who happened to be Trump? This would even explain why many people who voted for Biden, also voted for Republicans down ballot.

So many on the far left absolutely refuse to even consider these possibilities. You voted for Trump. Trump is a bad man. Therefore, you are bad. How does that help us? Let’s say you have a Republican who disagrees with you on universal health care, but they agree with you on gay marriage, and climate change. You’re really going to prevent them from being an ally on the two topics on which you agree, just because you disagree on one thing? Americans lean left on most issues. So why not work together when you can, and debate the topics of disagreement?

Don’t get me wrong. There certainly are nonstarters. For instance, if someone is racist, I simply can’t bridge that gap. But to many Republicans, abortion is just as unacceptable. If you use violence to make your point, I’m sorry. Antifa or Proud Boys, you don’t belong in my future.

Shouldn’t we try to work together as a country on the topics we DO agree upon? Maybe it will help us if we stopped focusing on our differences, and start paying attention to our similar views. Do you think Americans deserve to die? No? Great. We’re all on the same page. Let’s work together to stop COVID from wrecking us.

I think a lot of the problem is that a disturbingly large part of the population no longer accepts reality. That brings us to the right. Let me get this straight. The Dems planned out this voter fraud campaign… and lost in Congress. We worked so hard to get Biden elected, that more people voted for Trump than in 2016. Look, I get it. Trump was your guy, for whatever reason. Maybe you bought into his lies. He’s a con man, you got conned, and you don’t want to accept it. It’s called the sunk cost fallacy. You’ve dedicated so much energy and passion for Trump, that you don’t want it to have all been for naught. I understand. I’ve been fooled before. It’s humiliating. How could I have been so deceived? I’m not judging you. I’m not even mocking you.

But, as you said in 2016, “you lost, get over it.” Wouldn’t it feel better to work together to make America great again? Many of you support a path to citizenship. You just don’t like people coming here illegally. Ok. I understand. Surely, however, you must admit that cruelty shouldn’t have a place in this discussion. If you’re prolife, do you think the government’s forced sterilization of immigrant mothers is acceptable? What if you could make a deal, where you’d get stricter rules on illegal immigration, but in return, you’d accept those fleeing for their lives from cartels and inhumane governments? Isn’t that why the United States was founded in the first place? If you worked with us on negotiating a deal, you’d be just like the founding fathers.

Hold on, liberals, you’re not immune from irrational thought. Some of you are antivaxers, flat Earthers, and/or non mask wearers.

This brings me to my final point. We are going to have to relearn how to compromise. I’m sorry. I know both sides have developed this idea that if you give an inch, you become a traitor to your cause. It’s time to grow up. Back in the not so distant past, we agreed that there were issues. We simply disagreed on how to solve those issues. How should we help the middle class? Should we give tax cuts to the “job creators”, or should we expand safety net programs? Lately, however, we’ve gotten it into our heads that “my team’s idea” is the only reasonable solution and anyone who disagrees is stupid. Why do you think our Congress has become essentially useless? I understand the feeling of power we get when we say “we are right, and they are wrong”. But has that actually worked for anything in the last few years? We need to learn how to work together again. You give something up, but gain something in exchange. They give something up, and gain something, too. No one gets everything they wanted, but they do get something. Yes, it will be slow, but this is how we will help our country regain it’s former greatness.

I’m a patriot. I want this country to be everything it can be. It hurts to see both sides fighting and keeping this country at a stand still. We can do so much better. We’ve done it in the past. We have to do it again.