Politics

I used to be more vocal about politics, but decided a while ago that I didn't feel political arguing or posturing, particularly on social media, was very effective...or healthy. Unfortunately, the in-person conversations where these difficult and controversial topics are best discussed, seem harder and harder to come by. And so we're left with a political discourse consisting of memes and a goal of dunking on the other side, rather than a goal of genuinely trying to understand another person's point of view.

Consequently, I have been hesitant to broach this topic. In fact, I still have twenty-five draft posts that I could have taken on today, but I belatedly opted to add this one. (I originally set the goal to write once a week for the duration of 2024, but I think I will at least try to cover the draft posts I have already laid out, but perhaps at a slower schedule after the first of the year). But I decided I wanted to express some feelings on the topic and lay out in general what my politics are. (My goal is definitively not to argue politics, particularly over Facebook or as comments on my blog. If we have occasion to speak in person and there's a conversation you want to have, I may be open to it).

I feel that my politics are largely out of step with the majority of the community I live in. I have never (and never will, shouldn't have any more opportunity) voted for Donald Trump. Even before his entrance into politics, his was a persona I had no appetite for. I think I watched The Apprentice once or twice, but couldn't even tolerate him there. While never a Trump guy, my biggest hang-up by far at this point is his refusal to concede and accept the results of the 2020 election and participate in the peaceful transfer of power. I feel that stance and the resulting decline in trust in our elections did a lot of damage to our democracy. If everyone who loses an election immediately turns to attacking the integrity of the election, I don't see how our democracy can function. I guess we're just lucky the Democrats forgot to steal the 2024 election or who knows where we'd be?

I'm not really all in on the progressive agenda though, either. I don't like the emphasis on so-called identity-based politics and the desire to constantly be finding discrimination, even where none exists. I don't really agree with the idea that what we need discrimination now to undo the discrimination of the past. I don't find a politics where everyone focuses on their victimhood and what isn't fair for them rather than their potential and what they can accomplish to be very helpful.

I think we need secure borders, but also think that immigration has been a boon for the United States and is part of what has made our nation what it is today. I think that legal immigration should be expanded and we should make efforts to attract capable people to come here, to start businesses, and contribute to our communities. I think we should also try to keep families intact to the extent that we can. I realize that implementing these policies is not simple.

I'm concerned about Trump's tariff proposal and am concerned about the effect that would have on our economy (if those tariffs are in fact enacted). I also think that attempting to deport millions of people from our country would have more negative effects than positive.

I think the problem with housing affordability is a supply problem and that the best way to combat it is to reduce the burden and expense of building new housing. At the local level, I think that means allowing for different types of housing to be built and recognizing that only allowing for 4,000 sq ft homes on 1 acre lots is not going to help housing affordability. I also don't agree with the Democratic proposal of $20,000 or whatever for first-time buyers or whatever, as I think that impacts the demand-side rather than the supply-side and will only drive prices up further.

I am very much pro-Israel and that is an area where the progressive movement has lost me completely. I'm not an expert on the Middle East and for sure do not claim that Israel is infallible, but I don't understand how a country can be expected to live in peace side-by-side with terrorists whose organizations' stated goals are to annihilate Jews and eradicate Israel.

I'm also pro-Ukraine and think it's important for the US and EU to support that nation's sovereignty.

I am a fan of Governor Cox and Senator Romney (again, unlike many I live among). Just putting it out there. One of the the counterfactuals I like to think about is if Romney had won in 2012. Would Matt Ryan have just been elected to his second term? How different would the country and the world be?

One of the things that drives me crazy with politics is the double-standards. Bill Clinton was a bad person for his extra-marital affairs, but Donald Trump is not (and vice-versa). Something I find particularly amusing is the accomplishments of the Trump and Biden administrations that neither side wants to acknowledge. Under President Trump, Operation Warp Speed which produced safe and effective vaccines against Covid-19 in record time was a huge success. But Democrats don't want to give Trump credit for that and Republicans don't really want to talk about it either.

On the flip side, US oil production has reached record levels under President Biden. But again, neither Republicans nor Democrats want to acknowledge that fact.

But after all that exposition, I guess my main wish is that we'd all let politics mean a little (or a lot) less in our lives. Which party sits in the White House does not have nearly the effect on our day-to-day lives that I think we sometimes allow ourselves to believe. I'm almost 48 and have lived roughly half my life under a Democratic president and half my life under a Republican president. As I reflect back on my life, and the highs and lows, the good times and bad, who was in the White House at the time had zero effect on the quality of my life.

I've made no secret about the fact that although I grew up in a very religious family and was very religious myself, I have since become an atheist. I plan to get more into that journey at some point, but something that I wanted to highlight here is that my decision to separate myself from my previous faith has had no impact on my relationships with friends and family who have known me in both instances. I feel the same love and support that I felt while part of the Church that I do now. I believe that's a credit to the people in my life. But just like I believe that religion shouldn't be something that damages or severs a relationship, I also believe that politics shouldn't either.

One other thing on the topic is that I believe that this life is all there is. And with that belief there is nothing more important to me than the relationships I have with friends and family. We're all here for a short time, so let's focus on being kind above all else. Give others the benefit of the doubt, assume good faith, try to understand a different point of view (whether or not you agree with it). We'll all be better for it.

Grateful to live in the greatest country in the history of the world or for the freedoms and quality of life I enjoy. I hope we will all work together to continue to improve and strengthen as we move forward.

I love you all.