I started this page of the blog because I wanted to start thinking and talking about politics again. I have been re-examining a lot of my views about life and religion, and my political views have been part of that process, too.
I think my core beliefs about government are still the same libertarian-ish (libertarian-lite?) views I have pretty much always had, but I’ve definitely come to look at many things differently.
It’s been hard for me to get back into the political discussions, though. It was bad enough during the Bush years that the left was so angry, fed up, and helpless that their side of the discussion – especially on the internet – turned pretty nasty. Now the right side is acting just as bad, if not worse, and yet the left is still pretty much the same, even though they “won.” (I put that in quotes because the left doesn’t feel like they really won; that’s why there is still so much anger.)
The result is a political climate that is entirely toxic. I have no desire to get into that. I just went through a rough 6 months of watching my entire world view fall apart before my eyes. No one has any idea how difficult it was for me, and that it was felt in every part of my life, every relationship I have.
Things are really, really good for me right now and I feel like I can get back into writing with regularity, but the last thing I want to do is get caught up in the political fire fight.
This is mostly just a venting post, not some sort of announcement. I am still moving forward with this page. I want to work through my changing views on here. And I think I have something to add to the discussion.
I probably won’t change any minds, but I think it helps to have as many people as possible committed to doing things a different way, avoiding the gotchas and the zingers, and trying to find some common ground.
So, that’s what I want to do here. I hope you will remind me of that if you ever see me stray off course. I should say, when, because we all stray off course. It’s part of what makes us human. It’s why we need to stick together.
