Differences

Written Before The Election

Our forefathers established our elections for members of Congress and the Presidency. House of Representatives members are elected to four-year terms, and depending on their election year, there’s an election every two years. This ensures regular turnover if they’re defeated or re-elected, serving another four-year term. Senators, on the other hand, are elected for six-year terms, and their election dates determine the frequency of elections, leading to frequent turnovers.

Our Presidential elections are held every four years. In the past, some elections have been particularly heated, and this year seems to be no exception. I believe that over the past eight years, things have changed drastically compared to previous years.

The rhetoric between the Democratic and Republican parties has intensified, transforming us into adversaries rather than individuals with differing viewpoints and strategies for disseminating our ideas. Our Congressmen and women are unwilling to collaborate and accomplish their responsibilities. Instead, they adopt a “my way or the highway” approach from both sides.

It’s not just our representatives who are facing challenges; commoners are also struggling. I have a golf buddy whom I’ve known for many years. Instead of golfing together, we now meet for breakfast every week or two. He’s a Republican, and I’m a Democrat. We can’t discuss politics without one of us becoming increasingly agitated and emotional. This is absurd; we should be able to engage in discussions about our differences without resorting to combative or emotional behavior.

So, how did this situation come about?

The answer to that question is not straightforward, and I don’t want to assign blame. Partly, this is because several of our congressmen are extremists on both sides, and they refuse to collaborate. This year, a bipartisan bill concerning immigration and the border was introduced in the Senate. It only needed to be passed in the House of Representatives, but the presidential candidate opposed its passage and had it shut down. He intended to use it as a political issue against his apponent. I’m certain there are issues on the other side as well, neither of which is perfect.

We must come together and work towards a common goal. We need leaders who will lead and find solutions to the problems facing our nation. As Americans, we are not Republicans or Democrats; we have issues that need to be addressed, and not with superficial solutions. We need to look at our national debt, the border, inflation, wars, and various other problems. We need congressmen and women who will unite, put aside their differences, and get some work done. Is this too much to ask?