My “Last” Political Piece

By Ryan H. Schlauderaff
Contributing Writer
Every time I write a politically themed essay, I sit there and swear that it will be the last one. Writing and thinking about politics always leave me angry and frustrated, as well as deeply concerned. This essay will be no different.
I loathe politics. I hate reds, blues, liberals, conservatives, straights, gays, rich and poor, union and non-union, etc. I hate them all for their inability to get along and find practical solutions to the impractical problems that we—as a people, as a country, as a world—face. I loathe what our political scene has become, and I loathe the media, biased or not, for the 24-hour feedback loop that merely exacerbates the problems.
I have no doubt that this next session of Congress, as the Republicans take the helm, will be yet another dazzling display of back stabbing, pork barreling, see-sawing, polarized partisanship, and bitching and moaning. Just like when the Democrats had it.
I have no doubt the media will choose sides, report badly, possibly make stuff up, infuriate both sides, and generally fall over itself in the head-long rush to sensationalize every little thing in order to sell more papers and magazines and keep the viewer ratings up. 
I have no doubt we, as a people, will stand proud and strong in our camaraderie when “our” side raises victorious over the tyranny and stupidity of “their” side. We will be angry and disappointed whenever those lying, cheating, stupid, ill-minded, degenerate, morons from “their” side defeat “us.” We will pour our attention into the feedback loop of the “biased” media. We will all be winners (sometimes), and we will all be losers (sometimes).
I have no doubt some evenings I will watch the news, read the paper, and hang my head in sorrow as I look upon the towering mountain of senseless babble growing around me. I will likely cope by sipping some whiskey and writing another essay just like I swore I wouldn’t last time.
The reoccurring themes of such reluctant essays—our political system was created with checks and balances, if your party, your view, is winning some and losing some, that means the system is working and we have avoided tyranny.
Becoming more polarized and confrontational about one’s points of view does not bring further validation to that point of view. The “idiot” across the table that one may disagree with has just as much right to his or her opinion and vote. If one truly wants to change the world, success may be found more easily in venues beyond YouTube and coffee shop rhetoric, such as voting and campaigning.
On the whole, I think our political system would work more smoothly if we as a people spent less time hyping our own personal views, and more time listening to and learning from those we disagree with, while looking for compromises and solutions that would be beneficial to both parties.

There is no magic bullet, no perfect leader, no perfect party, and no perfect answer. We are a collection of humans, filled with thoughts and opinions and flaws. We are all trying to find the most successful way to live our collective lives. Kindness and respect are a rare commodity, but I think it would bode well if we all used a little more. I may not always like those I disagree with, but I should respect them in spite of our disagreements.
It becomes easy to find the loudest voice in the room and either yell with them or yell at them. I’m convinced this is counter productive. I understand the desire—or in fact, need—to promote one’s party or political views, but it should always be done with respect for those in opposition. It is also important to remember that in matters of opinion, there is no clear right or wrong.
Perhaps we take too personally what is in some ways an impersonal process. We are ruled by the people, for the people. As certain areas of my personal political interest move in directions I don’t approve of, I try not to take it too personally. The will of the people has overruled my opinion, and I respectfully accept my defeat.
As I close out my “last” political piece, I would like to extend a suggestion, an invitation of sorts, for the readers. Take a deep breath for patience and calmness and go talk to someone you disagree with… just to see what you can learn. We live in a nation divided by many lines, religions, political parties, races, and backgrounds. We should be proud of such differences and not give in to the polarized, sensationalized vision of our country the media may feed us.

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