The world has become a crazy place – the middle ground is becoming a lonely place to live. I refuse to live here alone, so let’s look at what we might all agree on.
If we could make a wish list of the top 10 things we want for our country, it might look like this for many Americans.
*Hope for a better future – we want to know that we have some level of control in our personal lives, our children’s future, our neighborhood’s future and America’s future. We need to know that we matter and can contribute, even if we don’t know yet how.
*Physical security – we want to feel safe in our homes, in our neighborhoods, at work and recreation. And we want others to feel safe too.
*Financial security – we want to have a home, food to eat, a means of transportation. We want to know that our jobs will be here tomorrow, opportunities to learn and increase our income, and something to rely on when we retire.
*Health security – we want to feel good physically and mentally, have access to good medical care and therapy, be able to afford high nutrient foods and appropriate medicines. We want safe and affordable options for senior care and child care.
*Fair and equitable education – we want to have our children educated in a safe environment at a consistent rate across the state, with good teacher to student ratios, relevant teaching tools, and teachers that are fairly paid and kept engaged and safe.
*Protection of our constitutional rights – Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well-regulated militia. Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination and double jeopardy. (https://users.csc.calpoly.edu/~jdalbey/Public/Bill_of_Rights.html)
*Good infrastructure – we want roads without potholes, safe intersections for vehicles and pedestrians, adequate parking and parks, clean and healthy water from our taps, good sewer drains, and public utilities (electricity, gas, water, communications/TV/phone) that are kept up. We want access for the disabled and reliable public transportation for all.
*Smart public policies – we want our public servants and servicemen/women to serve with honor, urgency, and respect for all citizens, and the punishment to fit the crime without prejudice or preference. We want our members of the armed forces stationed to serve for America’s security, not for corporate financial benefit or political gain.
*Food/product security – we want to know that whatever we purchase in stores or online is safe, and accurately represented in price and functionality. [I personally want better laws and punishment for those that prey on the elderly and poor with phone calls and social media scams.]
*Fair tax structures – we want those fortunate enough to have great wealth to pay a fair level of taxes. We want charities to be charitable. We want tax dollars to serve the general population.
If we can agree on what is best for us and our country, then the next step is to put our heads together to determine how to achieve the dream. It is there where the average citizen finds the challenge.
How can we get our political leaders to agree to disagree, but still work to together to make our futures’ better? We adults each get one vote – don’t use it to vote blindly against someone. There is a lot of repair work to be done in our country, and we need the most knowledgeable people in political offices now. Passion is a good thing, but it should not be the primary driver. Only those willing to find common ground will provide the leadership we need to improve our lives – to get us those things on our wish list.
Linda Stewart,
Lind Bohanon