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Political Extremes & The "Us vs. Them" Mentality
 To say that our country is politically divided is an understatement: Listen to any political pundit, radio talk show, or news event covered by the media, and it becomes painfully obvious that we live in an America of left vs. right, Democrat vs. Republican, and most recently progressivism vs. the Founding Fathers. Objectivity in journalism is on its last breath, and it is hard to find the truth in all of those wonderfully twisted sound bites. While the sparring on the Senate floor remains verbal, it's a fight nonetheless, with each side vying for your vote, your money, and your allegiance. Party lines have become increasingly hardened and extreme, and more than a few politicians seem to place their power and perks over their constituency. (And they talk about greed and corruption on Wall Street!) Elections are won through dehumanizing smear campaigns, not thoughtful debates on policy, and "future" consequences of legislation means, "Will it get me re-elected?" I suppose that having a government full of career politicians makes some of these unfortunate facts an inevitable part of politics . . . but it doesn't make it right. It also doesn't mean that we the masses should buy in to the "us vs. them" mentality that is consistently being shoved down our throats. We are all Americans (yes, even "flaming libs" and "right-wing wackos"), and differing ideas and opinions are as necessary to good decision-making as they are healthy. Throughout history, individuals have gained power through fear and by pitting groups of people (religious, racial, ethnic, political) against each other, at a very high societal price. Therefore, if we want to see a change in the current political climate, it's up to us. (Those who are benefiting from inciting animosity will only continue to do so.) Fortunately, divisive tactics only work if we the people actually go along with them. We all have our beliefs, and I'm not asking you to change yours. All I'm asking is for individuals to recognize that extremes in government are dangerous (especially in a powerful federal government) and that by protecting freedom for all, we are protecting our own personal beliefs. Instead of limiting everyone's rights to match our religion or social view, we should be universally increasing rights so that we can each govern ourselves. "Live and let live," the only way to guarantee that you are in charge of your life. Ellie Sherise
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