Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Red and Blue

The election is over.  The votes have been counted... well, mostly.  The decision has been made by the people.

Regardless of whether your guy won or lost there is a lot of work that needs to be done.  I've seen and heard calls for revolution.  For the 'red states' to secede from the union.  Really?  How is that going to help bring together this deeply divided nation?  That is exactly the kind of divisiveness we don't need right now.

We are in a mess.  Both sides can agree on that.  Now is the time to put aside our red/blue differences and start working together to fix things.  We need to stop focusing on being red or blue and focus on being American, doing what needs to be done for the good of the country and ourselves.

Do you hear that Washington??  TOGETHER!!  We the people hired/elected you to do a job.  Now put on your boots and get to it.  Stop letting your pettiness get in the way of doing what needs to be done.  We are on the verge of disaster because you couldn't play nice together... but now the people have spoken- so get to work.

33 comments:

  1. Very well said. My only fear is that there are not enough politicians (when did that become a dirty word?) in office who are willing to put their self-interests aside and work for the good of the people. We have become a nation run by the rich, the powerful and the greedy.

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    1. And it's not just the top office that needs to work. It's ALL those elected officials.

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  2. We the people as you say did not elect him. The electorial votes did. That's what is so frustrating. The American people said different but our antiquated ways stood. Sorry I'm not happy as you can tell but I do not have a choice.

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    1. um, actually as of right now, the people did elect him. Obama is up by 27 million by popular vote. So, either way, he won.

      And if the outcome had been different, the OTHER half of the population would have felt upset.

      My point was that no matter who won last night, about half of the population felt cheated. We've got to move beyond that and start working as US- not as me against them.

      Judy

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    2. Sorry for rant. Should have turned my filter on before I hit reply. When I last saw Romney had him by 2% . I am not happy about another 4 yrs but its my problem not yours or your blogs. Sorry again. Filter clicked to on.

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    3. LOL! No problem. As an Independent I don't feel tied to one or the other party. I have definite opinions (which I will keep to myself).

      Our system is f'ed up but, sadly, the people who would be in charge of fixing it don't really seem to have a vested interest in doing so.

      Again, my point of this entire post was that, regardless of the outcome, we have to learn to play nicely together or the country will be even worse off than we are now. And I feel that would have been true regardless of the outcome last night.

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  3. Huh? O won both the popular vote also. The last four years were all about making sure Obama wasn't a second term president. Now that he is, it's time to work together.

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    1. Yup, before I replied above I double checked the numbers to be accurate. Thanks for responding.
      J

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  4. LISA I agree with you. This time popular vote was higher for O. That is not always the case however. I would feel better win or lose if it was always "we the people" popular vote.
    I agree we all need to work together to make this the great nation it should be - but I really don't see that happening. What a shame.
    All I can do is pray for our leaders, the people, and the nation.

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    1. I agree that it should be by popular vote. The electoral college is such a mess. This time it wouldn't have made any difference and people are so divided.
      You're right- all we can do is pray.

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  5. It still bothers me that 51% of the voting population can dictate what 100% of the citizens (well, except for "special" people like politicians, of course) have to do.

    And I will never, EVER understand why someone would disagree with the Libertarian Party's platform. Really. What's not to like about personal freedom, personal responsibility, less government, less taxes? Oh wait, there are all those handouts missing from their statement of beliefs.

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    1. Playing devil's advocate here so don't yell at me...

      There is a reason we have the president, the House and the Senate- so theoretically, more people have a voice.

      Of course, they can never seem to play nice together.

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  6. You are living a pipe-field dream if you think this country is going to come together. The liberals will always feel their way is the only way. I at least know on my conscious that my vote went for Romney, and I wasn't one of 27 million stupid lemming sheeple that voted for Prez B.O.

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    1. As an Independent voter, I can also say the the Republicans/conservatives also tend to feel that their way is the only way.

      Not looking for an arguement here but it seems that no matter what way this had been decided people would be angry.

      It is what it is and we need to figure out how live with it.

      And BTW- calling people stupid for voting their own conscience isn't a good way to build bridges...

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    2. OK PEOPLE! No flaming on my blog or I'll delete you. I don't want to turn off anonymous comments or start having to approve them.

      You two are exactly the reason we're in the mess we're in in this country. The idea is compromise- not "My side is right and yours is wrong".

      Now play nice! Or else.

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  7. Hopefully people will start doing their jobs across the political lines, and wake up. While I think the whole system is broken maybe some fresh thinking will help?

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    1. Sadly, I don't think there was enough fresh thinking voted into office. Maybe we need to throw out the whole lot and start fresh. I do so hope that people can start crossing the political lines for the sake of us all... I hope... but I'm not going to hold my breath.

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  8. I'm all in favor of togetherness, however, the people who voted this president in, want freebies. And with freebies comes increased taxes, loss of small businesses that won't be able to afford health care for their employees, a lot of small business going out of business will effect the larger ones because they supply them. By getting rid of coal energy will mean loss of business for the people who sell block, those that sell timber, tire businesses...and on and on. It filters down. It effects everyone. They think that by taxing the rich, they can have their freebies. But wait until they themselves get taxed. They won't like that. And taxes will be heavy. The children of today will be facing MAJOR debt. By the end of the year, all the tax cuts will be gone. Each family will be paying $3,600 more a year to make up for the cut. Some people won't have that money...what will they do? It's going to be a scary and sad 4 years. But, like I said, I'm all for compromise, but I don't think our president will be as compromising as we hope, he has an agenda. Health Care for everyone....nothing is free. We are all going to pay, pay, pay....debbie.

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    1. Debbie- I like you a lot but I'm going to disagree with you.
      Not everyone who voted for Obama want freebies. Some of us couldn't stomach the socially repressive agenda put forth by the other party- or their plan to take us back to the lack of regulation that caused the banking problems in the first place. And as for energy... I don't think the answer lies in coal or oil. We are far too rapidly destroying our planet. Coal may be cheap to produce but its cost is far, far too great and 'clean coal' is a myth because few power companies are willing to spend the money it would cost to install the scrubbers needed. There needs to be a shift to more sustainable kinds of energy before we take the planet too far to be habitable by our species.
      And as for health care... working in health care I all too often run across people who don't have insurance... and guess who ends up picking up the tab? The taxpayer. Far, far better to have everyone have insurance that allows them to get preventative care than for them to wait until it is too late and have the taxpayers pick up the ER bill.

      I don't think the next 4 years will be sad or scary. Things are changing, yes. And change is often difficult, painful and maybe scary for those unwilling to see the benefits.
      As for the tax cuts being gone. Yes, they may disappear. But those tax cuts that we couldn't afford as a country are part of the reason we have the debt we are in. Republicans complained about the percentage of people who don't pay taxes- that is partly because the tax cuts mean they don't have to. Give me enough tax cuts and deductions and I won't have to pay taxes either.
      As for the president compromising- how about the Republican controlled House? It seems to me that they are a HUGE part of the problem.
      You're right, nothing is free. But some things are worth paying for IMHO.

      And don't even get me started on women's issues.....

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  9. You guys all need to watch the movie Obama's America 2016. It is a documentory by a guy who has always worked for liberal publications and been liberal. It tells about the people who influenced Obama in his life, and why he makes the decisions he makes. If he gets his way - life as we have known it for in our lifetimes will not be. It is very scarey. WATCH it - then see if you feel the same way about the man.
    It sure did change my mind.
    Before you criticize the movie - everything presented can be backed up with facts.
    It's surely not the America I want the young people in my family to live in.

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    1. I love it how people aren't willing to put their names on things like this.
      Actually, I have seen it. And laughed at how rediculous it was. It is one of those things 'loosely' based on facts with lots of supposition and 'interpretation'.

      And if you believe everything you see in a movie you have drunk waaaay too much kool aid.

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    2. Although, I will admit that the first part of the film- the historically accurate stuff taken from his book wasn't bad. It was all the distorted interpretations of what his 'vision' is that I found laughable.

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    3. This movie is NOT a documentary and it is full of at the best half-truths and at its worst outright lies. Also, Mr. D'Souza has been a conservative since at least Mr. Reagan.

      Even the most basic checkable facts are lied about, such as - "...Barack Obama had a bust of Winston Churchill removed from the White House, because Churchill was a colonialist. The only problem with this claim is that it is patently false. The bust of Churchill is still in the White House residence outside the Treaty Room.... This bizarre urban legend is easily disproved. This outright lie is symbolic of all the distortions throughout the entire D'Souza film....".

      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/14/1131650/-Review-The-Absurd-Lies-in-D-Souza-s-2016-Obama-s-America#


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  10. Judy, I'm glad ya' still like me!! But, I don't understand how folks aren't going to be concerned with the AMOUNT of taxes, or fees that are going to be put on the American people. In order to pay for the Health Care alone, is going to be astronomical. There will have to be taxes on everything. I don't fear for me. I'm 64, and retired. But I fear for my grandkids that are going to have the burden of paying and paying. The small business can't afford to offer health care and will be forced to and many will be put out of business. Those that manage to pay for it, will raise their prices and it goes on and on. So many people are going to be put out of their jobs. Coal IS West Virginia. All the plants, electric power plants use coal. Obama has already shut down 3 large power plants, and 3 largest coal companies no longer exist because he has the EPA making it impossible for them to renew. All these people are out of jobs. We will get to pay for their health care. I don't want to pay for their Health Care. Why should I pay for them? and in particular those lazy bums that don't work. That is what really makes me furious. I have no personal grudge with Obama, I just think he is going put this country into a recession. But, I guess we shall see. Maybe a compromise can be worked out. I hope so. I haven't seen the movie and probably wouldn't go see it for the reasons you said. It's an interpretation. Hopefully it will work out and things won't be too, too terrible. We can only Hope...debbie

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    1. I don't think folks aren't concerned about the debt or taxes. And actually, the Affordable Healthcare Act should, theoretically, bring healthcare costs down. We are paying now for the healthcare of all those folks who don't have insurance- we're just paying their bills as state taxpayers footing the indigent care bills and paying for it in higher healthcare costs because hospitals often have to eat a lot of the costs from treating patients with no insurance. I work in a state hospital so I KNOW we aren't allowed to turn someone away because of lack of insurance. I can't say the same for private places. but if someone shows up in an ER, they have to be treated and emergency medicine is the MOST expensive form of care there is.
      And I understand the problems with jobs and coal. But also, according to my hubby who writes for the energy industry, another thing affecting the coal industry is that fracking has now produced so much natural gas that it has driven energy costs waaay down and many plants are now switching to gas because it's cleaner and cheap.
      Here in Iowa we were worried about the wind industry if Romney had won. We have thousands of jobs here (many just down the road) producing wind turbines.

      Either way, it's going to be a long haul. And, BTW, the current recession started long before Obama took office when Bush was in charge.

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    2. That is JUST my point!! People don't care, all they can see is getting Health Care for all. Tunnel vision. There is so much more to Obama's agenda, they just don't want to see it. Lets see how we are all doing in a few years when all this tax stuff hit's the fan. Folks are going to be mad that Washington, DC folks don't have to use the Health Care, nor do the Muslims, nor do the Labor Unions....just you and I ...lol...this is such a nasty joke.

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    3. Helathcare for all isn't a bad thing. And I don't follow your logic about why Muslims wouldn't have to have health insurance. What you been drinking??

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    4. The Muslims are not required to have insurance! And if you are that uninformed, you better look it up cause there might just be a few other things you missed!!!!

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    5. Um, you better double check the facts yourself. I know plenty of Muslims who have health insurance. And unless you are also ready to call out scientologists, Amish and a number of other religious people, keep your bigoted ideas to yourself. I don't appreciate it.

      Here's a little information for you.

      http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp


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    6. And I'm half waiting to be called out for knowing and associating with Muslims. Oh, the horror! That I should accept someone as a decent human being regardless of their religious beliefs. i also happen to know Buddhists, Pagans and even quite a few Christians. The religion doesn't make the person.

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  11. I knew you would not publish my comment! You are not informed on the healthcare bill, much like a lit of democrats!!!

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    1. Gee... sorry. Some of us work and have better things to do with our time than check our blog for comments that need moderation on old posts.

      Now, either post your name or leave me alone. I'm done talking to you

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    2. Oh, and before you start calling people uninformed, better try to see facts rather than the biased views you have evidently been fed.

      And BTW- you can't even get simple facts right. I have stated multiple times that I am a registered Independent. I don't owe anything to any political party. It's just that this year I couldn't stomach the hatred most Republicans were spewing. You don't seem to be an exception to that rule.


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Glad you stopped in. I would love to hear from you.