I am Sick of Today’s Political Climate
By: Matthew Wurm
Tags: Voting, Trump, Election 2020

Election 2020

Politics Used to be My Passion, Now it Only Fills Me with Dread

Image Provided by Matthew Wurm

The flames of political war have enveloped the nation; the war for the White House. Sides have been chosen in this conflict, and they shall fight for their leader through social media, activism, and often shouting over any possible opponent. The war has only grown in intensity as the 2020 election draws ever closer, and frankly, I am exhausted by it; I cannot take one more day of this ludicrous partisan conflict.

My Background

I graduated with a degree in political science with a concentration in international relations and a minor in Psychology. My goal in life was to serve my nation by running a successful campaign for a seat in Congress. I strived to make America a better place by making tough decisions; decisions that were right for the country and not another talking point from one of the political parties. Yet, during the election of 2016 I lost all hope of fulfilling this dream. I saw that Washington simply did not work; as the Democrats and Republicans each drifted further away from the middle; compromise would not be an option. It would simply become the party in control pushing through their agenda without ever working with the other side of the aisle. Why bother even running for a deadlocked political system that would immediately ostracize me for not conforming to the party’s agenda? I looked at Donald Trump, a man who lacked any qualifications I deemed necessary to effectively run the country and realized that all the norms of government were about to be overthrown as Trump would undoubtedly not adhere to any sort of precedents set forth through America’s history. Trump had no government experience, had a number of failed business ventures, a slew of scandals swirling around him, a university that was a complete and utter scam, and had a campaign filled with controversy; yet he still won the election. Gone was the logic I had desperately hoped would push the country forward. What was the point of me trying to reach Congress only to be immediately blacklisted since I wouldn’t conform to bowing down to President Trump?

The 2020 Election

Now, as the 2020 election looms I see a nation on the brink of collapse under the weight of its own arrogance. I see people on the left demonizing Republicans as racists who only care about the wealthy and Republicans pointing to the Democrats as simply seeking to make America a socialist society that supports violence in the streets of America. Both of these are hasty over generalizations that are simply not an accurate portrayal of the majority from either party. As each party has become dominated by its more radical elements, it has left the moderates, those in the middle, struggling to figure out where their place is. Many of the people I talk to from both sides of the political aisle would love a different choice, they would love someone who did not care about petty party politics but was willing to work with liberals and conservatives to compromise and create legislation that would work for all Americans. It is simply absurd to believe that the Democrats or the Republicans have all of the answers. Each party has good ideas and bad ideas; therefore it is imperative to come together and foster these good ideas to work on a nationwide scale. Rather, most people are so caught up with party politics that they think everything the other side says is a horrid idea regardless of the actual content of these ideas.

What does party politics even accomplish then? Does it lead to a better America? Does it help unify the nation? Does it lead to better policies? It never will, for party politics is truly about obtaining and keeping power. Neither the Republicans or Democrats hold all of the answers despite their claims to the contrary. By demonizing the other side they can rally their voter base to action; namely, casting ballots for the members of their party.

How can we accept this?

Logic is Seemingly Dead

I never thought the day would come when I was sickened by the subject I adored so dearly. Politics has become ash in my mouth, a bitterness that feels me with dread; no longer is it this exciting prospect. It is simply a vile and corrupt system perpetuated by a population that is far more content with being driven by the flames of emotion rather than sound logic. It is rare to find someone who is willing to listen to opinions and logic, most are so closed off to their own ideas (despite how illogical or misinformed they are), that the notion of anyone else being right is simply impossible. Perhaps that is the other problem at hand, in an age of social media, most people seem to think that they are experts about most topics. There are people who spend years in their field studying and analyzing data, yet are certainly wrong since there was a meme that said something to the contrary. How absurd is it to believe a meme that is devoid of sources over information that links sources or is peer reviewed? It seems that only information that confirms biases or an arbitrary political viewpoint matter. It is important to be informed, but get that information from reputable sources. This includes peer reviewed articles, reputable news sources such as ABC News, and government websites. Reputable sources of information will always provide sources for their information, this helps ensure that the information within is accurate. The information should be what molds our viewpoints; it is only by listening to others, having a dialogue about ideas, that something better can be born.

I implore you to realize that you are not always right; this goes for both politics and life. Listen to those around you, whether it be friends, family, or coworkers. Truly, listen. Do not listen for the sake of giving a rebuttal, but rather, listen in order to understand. Only by doing this, can we bridge the gap between the right and left, and build a better tomorrow.

In America’s current political climate, we are inching closer to the abyss and the death of everything we supposedly hold dear. Together we can push ahead towards a brighter future for all Americans, a future that adheres to our values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans regardless of petty differences. However, our present course of division will bring nothing but the bleak destruction of our ideals and the collapse of our society. As President Reagan declared, “Freedom is never more than one generation from falling away forever.”

Complacency Leads to Destruction

Yet, despite my fatigue from the politics of the past four years, I cannot and will not let complacency settle in. Our forefathers fought too hard for this land, for this democracy that we all hold so dearly, to see it destroyed right before our very eyes. This election is far too important, it is not just a battle for who will sit in the Oval Office, it is a battle for democracy itself.

Donald Trump has systematically attacked foundations of democracy since taking office and has continued to expand the powers of the executive branch. He has encouraged voter suppression, has continually questioned the validity of elections before they happen in order to convince his followers that even in defeat, he was not defeated fairly. He has encouraged violence against those that do not support him, has mocked those with disabilities, and has shown time and time again that he is nothing more than a schoolyard bully who cares only about himself and his image. Furthermore, he refuses to promise a peaceful transition of power. This is all inherently against American values; and frankly against the values the Republican Party supposedly stood for.

To put it simply, complacency equals destruction. The future of this nation is worth fighting for. Our children are worth fighting for. The beautiful thing about America is that this fight is fought and won with ballots cast on election day. By voting, we can stand up and declare with a unified voice that we will not stand for bigotry, racism, or policies that favor only the elite. We must stand for all Americans regardless of who they are or where they come from; so that we may practice our most cherished beliefs; these unalienable rights for all: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.