It’s Not Republicans versus Democrats

It’s Not Republicans versus Democrats, or vice versa. As a citizen of this already great country, I object to the idea of a nation divided against itself. I have driven across these United States more times than I can remember. I have visited every state in the union and met people from all walks of life. Years ago, I couldn’t even tell you the political party of my friends and acquaintances. I didn’t care. How did political party divisions become so strong that they now impact relationships among family and friends?

One major causal factor has to be politicians who use polarization to advance their own agendas. These elected officials and political wannabes strive to capitalize on prejudice and the human desire for social identity. They will amplify cultural issues like immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and abortion to stir anger, resentment, and create an environment of us vs. them. Issues become weapons. Once the people are adequately enraged, the adept politician will exploit that rage to garner support for causes that benefit the instigator.

This faux moral outrage will now advance exponentially with mob-like fervor. Things that historically might have been ignored or tolerated without severe disagreement, become a cause célèbre. For individuals who might otherwise feel ignored, such political motivations become their raison d'être, pardon my French.

I am sure that there are people protesting immigration policy who have never been directly affected by it. Some of these same individuals may also claim to be devout Christians where the clear message of that faith is one of tolerance and acceptance. Now, with the proper prodding, they seek to contradict their faith’s teachings. They will be blinded to the hypocrisy of it all, following the example of their political leaders.

Politics and religion are now like conjoined twins speaking with one voice to advance to a position of power and control. Once in power, they have control over their main objective, financial advancement. Money is said to be the root of all evil, and to that I would add that it is also the main motivator of the outrage. As in any good crime thriller, the best solution is to follow the money. Find the financial motivation and you will understand the crime.

The greatest example of this lies in the embodiment of our current presidential office holder. He shamelessly fans the fires of discontent for his own aggrandizement and for his own financial benefit. He uses the power of his office for revenge against any who would challenge his opinion or who might threaten his acquisition of more wealth. His targeting of law firms, judges, media organizations, universities, labor unions, and individuals is not about the business of running the country, it is about retribution and punishment. These are not conservative Republican ideals and have nothing to do with his job. He openly uses his position as president, not for the benefit of the public he pledged to serve, but to reap financial rewards and stroke his own ego.

He did this as a businessman when he would sell his name to be placed on buildings and he now wants his name enshrined on public buildings. He wants Melania’s name to be the one used for the Kennedy Center Opera House and he has his name emblazoned on gold drink coasters held in a gold coaster box bearing the name TRUMP. The ivy planter box that has long topped the mantle of the fireplace in the Oval Office is now filled with gold ornamentation. He “borrowed” the gold FIFA trophy for a side table and golden eagles now support two other tables. Is anyone willing to bet that, if and when he leaves office, all that gold will find its way to Mar a Lago. The man is terminally-dishonest.

Yes, the division of America was a means to an end. Donald J. Trump had no problem with immigration or immigrants, and he regularly hired them as cheap labor for his properties. No, immigration was nothing more than a tool to enrage and motivate people to get them to look the other way while he becomes the richest president in our nation’s history. He wants and needs the division. While creating chaos across the country with his secret army of masked marauders openly defying the constitution, people are distracted while he picks the nation’s pocket. The Art of the Deal is now the Art of the Steal.

Hopefully, this nation will wake up to carnage before it is too late. We need to set aside our differences, Republicans and Democrats alike, and unite to save our democracy. Problems like immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, high gas prices, and the housing crisis will be insignificant if the radical “solutions” to these problems end up destroying democracy.