At a holiday dinner party a few years back the conversation amongst the men, confined and isolated at that moment in the kitchen, turned to politics. All, except me, shared a common world view dominated by extreme conservatism, small business, the Republican Party, and a dislike of the Clintons, the Clinton Presidency, and the prospects for another and Bill and Hillary in particular. These views are not isolated here nor a surprise to anyone who lives in this part of the Midwestern United States.
The conversation soon focused on discussion of the security and safety of Air Force One, the President's plane, and a story told by a former Special Forces officer who now operates a private consulting firm, specializing in testing security measures at various corporate and U.S. government installations. Apparently this consultant and his team were able to penetrate every security system he has been asked to test. One of our group, hearing this story, muttered aloud and only half in jest it was unfortunate these folks, or a similar group, didn't get through the security and sabotage the President's plane while he was in it. Everybody but me thought that was really funny.
This is the legacy of the polarization of American politics being promoted and driven by a vocal few and now being picked up by everyone. What have we done, how have we allowed ourselves to become so jaded we speak openly about our desire to see the death of the President of the United States? Have we become so fractured socially, economically and politically we can't work together? Whatever happened to our ideas, ideals and traditions emphasizing toleration respect and compromise even though we don't like our opponent? Was Bill Clinton such a bad person that he falls beyond the line, or have we forgotten the rules of civil discourse?
Our government and way of life is imperiled because we the people have forgotten ignored and failed to exercise our responsibility of oversight. We have put ourselves in corners so we are always right and our opponents and those who believe differently are not only always wrong, but their behavior is seen as treasonous. This is not the America I know and love. This is neither the government nor the political climate we want and need to address the global challenges ahead.
