Can we agree on a few basic statements? | Eastern North Carolina Now

   I offer these as a starting point for reflective thought, in hopes that you can discuss this with your circle of friends. We are into the real political season now (Really?) and for most of us the opportunity to vote will occur in March this year.

• Our government spending is out of control.
• Our Government's main job is to protect the security of the citizens.
• Our political system is corrupted by career politicians.
• The two-party system has created a self-sustaining bureaucracy that serves only itself.
• Our voting populace is too easily duped into believing in almost anything they hear.
• Our election procedures seemed geared toward what it takes to win rather than what course we should take to solve our mutual problems.
• Our elementary and secondary education system is a failure in educating our children in the basics of earning a living in the current environment.
• Our colleges no longer have a goal of educating the students but have become a business unto themselves.
• Our criminal justice system is fatally flawed by its reliance on minute legal points rather than overall justice.
• Our welfare system does not actually help the people in need and may in fact actually harm them.
• Our fundamental belief in the founding principles has been eroded.
• Our economy has evolved into a non-manufacturing consumption economy and Our workforce is ill prepared for the jobs that are available today, which require more specialized knowledge.
• Our tax system is overly complicated and used to punish or reward selected groups.
• Our family unit has been under attack from many sides including the government.
• The practice of religion is no longer a protected right in anything related to government property.
• Our media outlets no longer provide an unbiased view of the facts or at the very best hide an agenda in their coverage of the news.
• We have created a society more willing to blame others for their personal or financial problems.
• Less than 1/2% of our population is serving in the military with skin and ass at risk.
• Wishing things will get better has not and will not work. And yet, our country is still the Shining Light on the Hill and the best hope for the future yet devised by mankind. We are fortunate in that we have a self correcting system that allows us to make adjustments to our policies and laws when results are not what we expected.
• We are still the most charitable country in the world.

    The answer to my question is NO! I have made a general rule not to discuss politics or religion with my friends. I have no qualm doing so under the "Bobby Tony" pseudonym. The reason is that they are my friends because they tend to agree with me on most issues and the few that do not agree with me have used the same rule as above. If I want to know what they think, I can generally get their viewpoint by talking to myself in the mirror. Some would say I have a very limited friendship base, which is true. I put a very narrow definition on friendship, but is has nothing to do with politics. It was a lesson learned many years ago based on shared experiences together; success and failure, highs and lows, disagreements and agreements and finally loyalty and empathy. Acquaintances, Yes I have many, but friends is a special category reserved for a select few.

    Slogans, banners, stamps and clichés will not change anyone's mind and will most likely harden their attitude. As much as I enjoy a good debate, it will not solve the problems above. As a case in point, I would suggest that most who read this little post will already have formed a rebuttal to the points where they disagree. On the points where they agree they will just let them go with no plan to move forward with a solution. This is what psychologists and economists call "Confirmation Bias". Not only are people more likely to believe information that fits their pre-existing beliefs, but they’re also more likely to go looking for such information. Is is also referred to in legal circles as "Willful Ignorance" or "Nelsonian knowledge". Still many others will just say "Who the hell does he think he is lecturing me, that is just his opinion?" -------->

   I am not soliciting a debate with this observation but more of an introspective look at our own belief system. The most convincing argument for a point of view is a well-considered vote in public elections reinforced by the rule of law to protect the minority and not allow the majority to trample on the minority's rights. It is my experience that the most narrow minded people are the ones who profess to examine all sides before making a decision. I include myself in that category since I have a long history of experience which have created my biases. As difficult as it is sometimes, I try to follow old adage."It is what you learn after you know it all that is important".

    At some point we must sit down and stop talking past each other and try to address at least some of the issues we agree about. It is my opinion that this discussion should be done in small groups. This post is just an invitation to you to discuss the issues within your circle of contacts. If you do not agree with any of my above points, make a list of yours and maybe you can find some agreement there. If nothing else, it will clarify where the ditches are on both sides of the road.
    Maybe old Bob Dylan had it correct in his song long ago.

    "It's a restless hungry feeling
    That don't mean no one no good
    When ev'rything I'm a-sayin'
    You can say it just as good.

    You're right from your side
    I'm right from mine
    We're both just one too many mornings
    An' a thousand miles behind"

    "One too many Mornings" Bob Dylan Copyright © 1964, 1966 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1992, 1994 by Special Rider Music

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