Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Party Politics

This isn't a post about Democrat vs Republican party politics. It's about political divisions within each party. While many Democrats wonder why today's Republican leadership won't step up and congratulate President Elect Biden, the answer is pretty simple -- they can't afford to anger the Trump base. Although they may not agree with Trump policies or condone his behaviors, they need the support of his base. His base represents more than half of the overall republican voters.

The Democratic party has a similar kind of divide between its far left side (think Bernie Sanders) and its more moderate side. I fully expect a more liberal Speaker of the House than Pelosi when January rolls around. 

President Elect Biden keeps saying that he'll be a President for all of America. Truthfully, he isn't even representative of all of the Democratic party. Sure, the party united against President Trump, but they didn't really unify in their support of Joe Biden.

I see the divide within the Republican party much more disturbing than the divide in the Democratic party. Denying science, denying truth, and being racist and hateful are far different from differing policies on healthcare and climate change, but they are still dividing the parties and potential voters. Losing potential party voters is a pretty big deal for Republicans in Georgia right now.

I'd say that I don't have the answer, but the answer isn't a big secret. We all know the answer. 
We have to start listening to each other and finding ways to address each other's concerns. What is so frustrating is that so many voices are speaking and so few ears are listening. I am not very hopeful that we will be able to come together as a country. I am not very hopeful that people will be concerned with the needs of others rather than looking to guard their own stuff and prosper themselves. 

sigh
Maybe tomorrow's post will have more hope.

John

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