Come Together or Fall Apart

Today, I looked back at something that I had brought up on a site called Nextdoor.com. It’s a franchise like site, and there’s probably a site in your hometown. Your neighbors use it to find and make recommendations, give each other a heads up about scammers and prowlers, etc.

I made the mistake of prefacing my post with the word “political”. In doing so, it seems that I offended almost everyone, equally. I suppose that means that I’m living up to my convictions:

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” — Winston Churchill.

What my neighbors seemed to fail to understand was that I was trying to take a stand FOR THEM. ………and all of California.

Many took it upon themselves to educate me that I’d posted in the wrong place, and I apologized for that, because they were right. Others sought to enlighten me that not all of my neighbors are democrats or liberals. (I don’t remember asking them to change for me). Still others sought to “prove” that if they posted praise of tRump, rather than dissing him, (as though that was what I had done) that the post would be removed from the site, while mine was allowed to remain.

When I went back and looked at how the thread had continued, so contentiously, in that vein, I was saddened. My point had been completely missed.

My neighbors were carrying on the political sniping across the two party lines, even after I’d apologized and left the thread. Here then, is my heroic attempt at yet another apology, and more, and it seemed important enough to also put it here:

Yes, I was looking for like minded people to canvass with me, and I did apologize for posting this there, as it was not the appropriate place. After I apologized, I had thought to simply (virtually) walk away and ignore the verbal (online) conflagration that I had started, hoping that my absence would allow the dust to settle. I was sorry to see that the dust had not settled. My wish for my neighbors is that they become able to take a step back and understand that the fault is not in ourselves, or in “The Other”. It is in the fact that we currently have a Federal Government that is an outdated TWO PARTY SYSTEM. By labeling itself as a two party system from the get go, it subconsciously motivated us and especially our politicians to win for our party, at any cost…….even if the win isn’t good for America or most of the American people.

That attitude precludes the possibility of happier compromises and progress that IS good for all Americans, rather than just some or just a few. I had succumbed to my fear that most of America has become brainwashed with the idea that this 2 party system is the best and only way to govern ourselves, AND…………..

I had the arrogance and temerity to want something better for California, because I know that California has always been that shining example of inclusiveness, and willingness to work together as a community.

Was I wrong to put such faith in California?

I SAY NO.

I know that when my friends travel, internationally, and they are asked where they come from, they get a much warmer welcome when they say that they are from California, then when they say that they are from the US- and even more so Today than in the past. I know that we Californians have the resources, creativity, and capability to take problem solving to the next level, in order to take care of our own issues like housing, environment, joblessness, healthcare, education and welfare programs. I know, also that we are all smart enough to understand that these are real issues that really affect ALL of us and not just one party or the other.

Issues are never partisan, contrary to what our Fed. level politicians would have us believe, so that they can seem to be earning their wages (our tax dollars) by coming up with ways to “solve” these problems for us. IMNSHO, California can do better (than the US, is currently doing) at continuing to be a leader in using science and technology to keep innovating new ways of dealing with those issues I mentioned, along with pollution and climate change, and many others, because those things are real. And what’s real is real for ALL, as I said before, and not just for some. The problem comes when only SOME are willing to deal with problems that are potentially fatal to ALL, like pollution and climate change.

Our current regime is made up of those who fail in that.

No help for Flint, when they still have no clean water. Nearly no help for CA wildfire victims. No help for Puerto Rico (an American territory)- still reeling from their latest hurricane. How many fatalities have come of those disasters?

No belief in the SCIENCE of climate change, (which is causing more “natural” disasters) therefore no move to fix it, only to continue to worsen that situation for profit.

Instead our tax dollars are going to the golf games of ONE MAN, as well as a parade to the greater glory of that ONE MAN. Our tax dollars are paying for a wall that we don’t need that will decimate migrating animal species in the area and go through land owned by American farmers who need to keep it in order to make any profit by farming, who will get for it, pennies on the dollar. Yes, I got political…………if you consider each man, woman and child in California to be an island unto themselves, and if you have no faith that we can or WANT to come together to try to make anything better.

I, on the other hand, like a challenge, so I’ll continue to believe that we are all strong enough, wise enough, sensible enough, and compassionate enough to put parties aside, for the greater good. I intend to continue to try to believe that we ALL want what is best for the US, and or for a NATION OF CALIFORNIA, if it turns out that the rest of the USA CAN’T learn to do the same.

I challenge my Petaluma neighbors and fellow Californians to stand by my side, for California, in order that She can continue to be the innovative beacon of hope, environmental awareness, right relationships, compassion and common sense that she always has been.

I don’t ask anyone to vote as I do. I ask you simply to vote, and when you vote, to consider putting your party ideals and dogrel aside to vote on the issues, rather than for candidates. I ask us all to THINK rather than to accept the norms and standards that have been fed to us for centuries regarding a two party system of government, because we can do better than that, and BECAUSE WE CAN, WE HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO OURSELVES AND TO THE WORLD.