We All Want the Same Things
People were so nice about yesterday’s post I am inspired to
write another
My topic today is “Everybody Wants the Same Thing”. I mean
at a very basic level. We all want to be physically secure and safe. We all
want to have meaningful work that earns us enough to live in some degree of
comfort and have a little fun once in a while. If we have kids, we want to see
them grow up in good health and have those same things we want for ourselves. Also,
because we are social animals, we want friends and family. That all seems
pretty simple. How hard can it be?
Apparently, the answer is “very hard”. It seems we can all
agree on what we want, but not on how or even if we can all have these things.
Nor can we agree on how to get those things. Take American politics as
an example.
The average Republican, for example, believes that
government should only provide defense (including law enforcement). They see
any other government action as unwanted interference. This keeps taxes low,
they figure, and is good for everybody.
Democrats, on the other hand, will tell you that rich people
have unfair advantage in a competitive economy and that government intervention
is needed to protect vulnerable individuals and address environmental concerns.
What we see today is this simple, basic disagreement about how
to get what we want blown way out of proportion. Our leaders hunker down in
their separate camps and refuse to consider any proposals from the “other side”.
Both forgetting that at a basic level we all agree on what we want.
So, who is right? It is my opinion that there is an element
of truth on both sides—and way more faulty thinking on every side. It leaves me
wondering what would happen if we all just set party labels aside and address
the pressing issues of the day by looking at what is actually happening and
using our skillful means of negotiation to arrive at a practical solution.
For example: A poll I recently saw indicated that over 70%
of the voting public believes military style assault rifles should be illegal.
How is it that in a functioning democracy something that is supported by a
large majority can not be enacted into law? People accepting their party line
as reality and not accepting the real truth that is staring them in the face—that
the majority of Americans want common-sense gun control.
Furthermore, opponents of gun control further distort the picture
by claiming the “other side” is “coming for your guns”. This in spite of the
fact that every gun control advocate I have ever seen is quite vocal about
saying they don’t want your hunting rifles and shotguns. This leaves both sides
pointing across the aisle and claiming, “They are lying to you.”
What a mess. My suggestion is let’s all try to figure out
what reality is and advocate sensible solutions to pressing issues that
interfere with getting what we want. Just remember—we all want the same thing.
