POLITICS VS. FRIENDS — WHAT HAPPENED?

Below is an exchange from today on a local Columbus, Georgia social network, InTownColumbus.com between John Suhr, a fellow musician and myself.

He is concerned that this election has pit friend against friend unlike ever before in recent memory.

John Suhr said:

There was a day, not too long ago, where discussing presidential candidates and political parties was much like discussing your favorite football teams. It could be lively conversations with much good-spirited ranting back and forth. People might even go into diatribes, in friendly spirited debates but at the end of the day everyone would go home as good friends who disagreed.

Today, it's not the case. Even with long-time friendships and good memories of being together — political discussions can generate deep-seated anger and one can lose a great friendship forever SIMPLY by one being or a liberal persuasion and one being a conservative.

To me, there is not a single issue or a single person in politics that is worth a human life (such as senseless assassinations) or worth losing a good friend. Yet it's happening all over the country and right here in Columbus. In some homes, discussions of politics has become taboo.

What happened to make it all so bitter? Why would we waste our mental energy actually personally HATING a politician. I can see vehement disagreement but people today actually hate some of the politicians AND their families and associates. I think it is a symptom of SOCIATAL SICKNESS and I wish it would go back to the old attitudes.
Here's the bottom line about the presidency: NEITHER candidate "wants" war, neither candidate can implement things that will shake our world without the aid of congress and the senate and I doubt if either candidate will affect our billfolds except through taxation. Here's the question: What happened to our attitudes? I don't "hate" any politician and I don't think anyone else should. I'd have a beer with any of them and probably enjoy it

Here is my comment:
Great topic, John -- consider this... there are many good, conservative Americans across the nation struggling... this is personal for them, and it is possible you may not be one of them.

By conservative, I mean Americans that don't believe in hand-outs and don't take them. They pay their taxes as prescribed by law and can't afford a CPA to find special loopholes for them. These Americans turn off the lights when they leave a room and are attempting to pay off college loans that are double of those a single generation before. The cost of utilities, gasoline, baby formula and food has skyrocketed in recent years -- placing these good, hard-working people dangerously close to losing their home or healthcare. Again, John, you may not be one of the people affected.

Millions of these well-educated Americans had great-paying high-tech jobs, then, one day after a tax loophole (incentive) was created, American companies began to outsource these industries to 3rd world nations without a responsible contingency plan for this highly-skilled labor. You may not be one of these Americans either.

For hundreds of thousands of military families, they are contemplating what they should never contemplate -- retiring early to spend time with their family due to sense of political corruption in lieu of smart executive military leadership and innovative diplomacy. These are the most noble of Americans and you may not be one of these.

Of course, you have another million people who have banked in light of high-end tax legislation favoring hedge investment, the hiring of black market labor over American citizens, and other risky investments that paid off -- just in time. For some, "struggling" isn't an everyday issue. They've benefited from the recent economic climate and are comfortable. God bless them.

For many this isn't politics as usual, it is personal -- how many of these people do you know? Do you care? This is the debate at hand.

*END*

peace-
senarox

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