Hello, Democrats. Welcome to my political blog. I am not a Democrat, nor have I ever been, but I am sure you and I both will agree that we cannot work together if we are not willing to take each other seriously.
I am fully ready to keep my ears open to differing opinions because I know what it feels like to be the only person in the room with my viewpoint.
I am fully ready to keep my ears open to differing opinions because I know what it feels like to be the only person in the room with my viewpoint. I remember in one of my classes in college, I seemed to be the only conservative-thinking person, and although it was scary to speak my mind at that time, I did. What I noticed was that 1 or 2 other people in the class of 15+ agreed with me. They were just scared of the consequences of speaking their mind outwardly. I am sure if a liberal person were in the same situation, they would feel afraid to speak also.
This brings me to my point: If someone is immediately shut down because their opinion differs from the “majority opinion,” even so slightly, it does not mean it is the wrong opinion. It just means there are two different philosophies.
In 2015, during the Presidential primary campaign, I made thousands of phone calls on behalf of the GOP, and what I heard were a lot of frustrated people, who were sick of the same old politicians (on both sides), making promises and refusing to keep them once in office. People got so sick and tired of the same people ruining our country, so they took a chance and tried a Trump presidency.
In 2016, people were so over the BS spewing from both sides, and we got President Trump. Love him or hate him, he is still our president.
Now, people on the Democrat side may say, “We had Bernie. He was the ‘independent’ choice for Democrats,” and I somewhat agree, however, he is still a career politician, just as Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton, and all the rest of the ‘establishment’ we were so desperate to escape from. In 2016, people were so over the BS spewing from both sides, and we got President Trump. Love him or hate him, he is still our president.
So, when someone supports President Trump, that may not necessarily mean they agree with everything he does. But that also doesn’t mean someone who agrees with Trump is automatically a “sexist, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, [fill in the blank] pig.” It just means that we want to try something new because it obviously wasn’t working the way it used to.
For instance, I personally think Richard Nixon was an underrated president for his achievements in opening up China, beginning the war on cancer, signing Title IX which opened the doors for women in education, overseeing the peaceful desegregation of southern schools, giving Native Americans tribal self-determination, etc. Just because of the admittedly horrible “Watergate” incident, it does not mean Nixon’s entire presidency is null and void. Just as Bill Clinton’s presidency isn’t automatically null and void because of the Monica Lewinski sex scandal. I am the first person to admit that the double standard exists, and I hope to end it.
I am sure President Trump has made mistakes, as we all have, but he has done many great things too. He opened up a conversation with North Korea, signed legislation allowing our veterans to choose their health providers, cut job-killing regulations, approved the largest tax cut package in a generation, achieved the lowest minority unemployment level in history, and the list goes on from there (I can’t wait for the Spaceforce!!!).
So, how about instead of automatically hitting the “I hate Trump” button, let’s just sit back and remember that we are still one nation, and as one nation, we must learn to have an open civic discussion with those of which we disagree. If we all congregate around people we agree with 100% of the time, there would be no progress since a healthy debate is necessary to move forward as a nation.
Did you think we could have been the first in flight, won two world wars, been first to the Moon, or all our other countless achievements with our backs turned against each other and “resisting” every time the other side proposes something? No.
Democrats need to grow the hell up and stop calling people “Hitler” or a “fascist” just because they disagree with them.
Democrats need to grow the hell up and stop calling people “Hitler” or a “fascist” just because they disagree with them. In New Mexico, we Republicans are at a disadvantage, since we are in the minority in this current regime. Do you think we should just “resist” until the next election, or do we want to help grow our state, even if some of the policies from the other side are entirely moronic?
We must listen, cooperate when we can, but never give up our principles. I’m pretty sure, back in the days when it took bipartisan support to free the slaves, pass civil rights legislation, and give people the right to vote, it took both sides compromising to do the right thing. So, instead of complaining about our president or governor, let’s look past our differences and work together as one to lead our country forward.
It’s okay to disagree on fundamental issues, but at the end of the day, our country depends on ALL OF US to grow up and work together, or we won’t be the greatest country in the world anymore. (Spoiler: you don’t have to wear a MAGA hat and attend Trump rallies to want America to be great.) Just fight for your own side once in a while.