Kathleen's Blog

As we head into election season, I find myself wanting to be on Facebook less and less. I ignore news on TV. I  really can’t motivate myself to read political commentary anymore.

I am fairly conservative on most issues,  but this label doesn’t mean I am a heartless, stupid *itch.  It just means I think the solution is different from someone who isn’t conservative.  That is it.  Different.

If we look at Welfare, an issue I think we can all agree is a fairly divisive one:  There are people who need help.   A simplistic conservative approach is to provide tools to those who are able to become self-reliant and eliminate dependence on government money.  A simplistic liberal approach is a belief government should provide more resources with fewer restrictions to welfare recipients with the belief  that there is an obligation of a successful society to help those who are less fortunate become fortunate.

Looky there – both sides want to  help the poor not be poor.

I love a good debate that starts a discussion, a good healthy conversation about ideas that differ from what I comfortably think I know.  I like the connection on an emotional level where all acknowledge that there is a problem and discuss different solutions.

Sometimes this discussion may or may not change anything.  But the minute you call me, or someone else, an idiot (or similar name ) because their solution doesn’t line up with your’s, you actually show your ignorance and your inability to articulate what you believe and why you believe it.  Name calling shouldn’t be your argument.

It doesn’t particularly bother me when people call me stupid. Either it’s true or it’s not, and if it’s not, I revise my opinion of the speaker downward and move on. Opportunity lost.

How we start conversations leads to change and our conversation ends when the name calling or degradation starts.  Is there more you could be doing to see the human part of the people who politically disagree with you?

Only stupid people call people stupid. And 3-year-olds. 3-year-olds call people stupid.

Love,

me