The 2020 elections are fast approaching. Well, not fast enough for me. The lunacy increases with each passing day.
Will your vote be decided by policy or personality?
Today’s political landscape has become so antagonistic, so divisive, that it is all too easy to ignore policy and default to personality as you make your decision.
Take that easy route and you will pay a price. I do not care which candidate you choose. What is important for this conversation is how you get there. How will you decide?
If you choose the easy route and let personality dictate your decision, you will become less engaged in the issues that will shape our nation’s future. Sure, it is easy to say, “he is so odious” or “she is an idiot.” Okay, either statement might be true, depending on the candidate you have targeted for your scorn.
But is that enough? By letting matters of personality determine your vote you have, effectively, shut yourself out from any energized debate on important policy issues.
Engaging in such debate, especially if you are respectful and listen to opposing points of view, is the hallmark of a dynamic and inclusive society. It is democracy at its best.
Would you accept less? Would you accept that we are a divisive and polarized society? The way you conduct yourself as we approach the 2020 election might answer that question.
Let there be no doubt, an engaged and inclusive society will be better able to handle the complex issues that we will be facing in the future. How you choose to conduct yourself will make a difference. It is your choice.
Choose wisely.