Steve Frey
Next Tuesday is the big day. Midterm elections could create positive change in the state and country.
If you are like many people, you are close-minded and can’t entertain new ideas that do not conform to the talking points that are ingrained in your mind. Harsh but true.
Many made up their minds about candidates based on only one thing: the “R” or “D” after their names.
There are, however, some who might be more open-minded.
Let’s think through this whole election thing.
First, most of what you see in television commercials is false. Spinmasters take an issue and exaggerate it to an extreme, incorrect end.
Take the commercial that stokes your fear of an “alien invasion.” It sounds like “Independence Day.”
As Shep Smith explained on Fox News, there is no “alien invasion,” and troops are being moved to the border now because it will excite some base voters. The asylum seekers are months from arriving.
Democrats aren’t in favor of open borders. They want to create a way forward for DACA children who grew up here and a thoughtful, effective border/immigration policy. They believe that wall building is a shallow solution in an era of technology and easy mobility.
Democrats are not socialists or communists—they are Democrats. Yes, some have joined the populist movement started by Bernie Sanders—Democratic Socialists.
But Republicans support social institutions like libraries, schools, highway-building, electric companies, social security, and many other services, too. No, Democrats are Democrats.
Republicans are not all racists. Yes, many KKK and Neo-Nazis vote Republican (notice the signs for the president at their rallies), but that is a minority.
Most Republicans care about and respect others regardless of race, creed, color, etc.
Most Republicans do support family values and abhor leaders who call other people demeaning names, separate children from parents and put them in camps or joke about molesting women.
Most Republicans do support small government, and many don’t understand their leaders raising the deficit by 1.5 trillion dollars and giving 83 percent of the tax cut to the one percent of the wealthiest in the country and corporations and not the middle class. Democrats, by the way, do support middle-class tax cuts.
Many Republicans don’t want to see our streams, lakes, oceans and the air polluted or support mountain-top mining or gas pipelines in back yards. Many do support science and facts.
Both parties care about healthcare as evidenced by Medicaid expansion. They don’t want people to die because they can’t afford medicine or a doctor.
They know that most every first world country makes sure all citizens have affordable health care (interesting fact: about 643,000 Americans go bankrupt every year because of medical bills, while this is the number for most other countries: 0).
Most polls say that 94-97 percent of Americans back universal background checks for guns. Most Americans don’t want insane people or violent criminals having weapons.
Democrats don’t want to eliminate the 2nd Amendment (many are hunters), and many Republicans do care enough about massacres in schools, churches and theaters to take common-sense steps like sensible background checks.
Many Republicans and Democrats value social security and Medicare. They don’t agree with the president, McConnell or Ryan who want to cut those programs to pay for their tax cuts for millionaires and corporations.
Democrats believe in a strong military just like Republicans. However, nobody thinks $800 coffee mugs make sense. Many think defense budgets need to be audited to avoid waste and more money should go to the people serving and veteran services.
Those are just a few issues.
Be leery of those who talk about people on the “radical left” or “radical conservatives.”
Your neighbors who are Democrats or Republicans are not part of an “angry mob.” They are hard working, patriotic Americans who want good schools, good jobs, a clean environment, a strong defense, civil/equal right and to allow all people to attain life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Yes, people have different views, and yes, many are worried about the country’s direction.
However, Americans have been led to believe that Republicans and Democrats are totally opposed to each other on all issues. No, Americans have much in common; they see different ways moving forward, but many want to work together.
Those are key words: work together. Move beyond the R and D alone. Which candidate cares about people and will meet with them?
Which candidate cares about decency and will stand up against immature name-calling, bullying, and intolerance?
Which candidate will make sure people don’t die waiting for medicine, opposes the separation of children and parents of asylum seekers, and wants to preserve the 2nd Amendment but protect people from being massacred by insane people or violent criminals?
Who will recognize the importance of not discriminating based on religion, race, sexual orientation or national origin and oppose those who do?
Who will advance middle-class tax cuts but ask the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share so schools can be fairly funded, infrastructure can be built and people can be trained for the jobs of the 21st century, not the 19th?
Yes, who truly cares about people? That is the person to vote for on Tuesday. Deep down, you know what to do.
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services based in Radford.
