In the United States, the death bell is tolling. The political discourse in America is out of control, filled with vitriol, venom and malevolence. However, the problem lies not with our politicians as we so oft proclaim with self-righteous indignation. Our politicians stand upon platforms built of our principles and ideals. Our politicians are just overt symptoms of the underlying malignancy running rampant through our country. Politicians are representatives not only FOR us, but they are also representative OF us. They have become the obnoxious personification of what we, as Americans, truly and obviously value. Thus, we need look no further than the first three words of our Constitution to find for whom the bell tolls. It tolls not for “they” or “them” or “those people”, but for “We the people.” Meaning all of us: you, me and every other American man, woman and child, whether white, black, gay, straight, religious or atheist.
“We the people” are the problem. No longer do we the people seek tranquility, justice or “a more perfect union” as our Constitution states, but rather we intentionally divide and segregate ourselves and denigrate one another. When we value keeping up with the Kardashians more than keeping criminals out of office; when we value ridicule more than respect; when we raise ourselves up by pushing others down; then we the people are the problem.
When we support incarceration more than education; when we place blame rather than accepting it; when we find fault rather than forgiveness; we are the problem. When we hide our eyes rather than helping others; when we close our minds rather than opening our hearts; when we look for the golden ticket rather than practice the golden rule, then WE are the problem.
Given the minimal respect with which we treat ourselves, is it any surprise that our politicians behave in the same manner? If we can’t even discuss an issue without resorting to name calling, does it shock anyone that our politicians cannot solve our country’s problems even when they control both houses of Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court? Politicians are elected by we the people and are but mere reflections of what we value most in our society. We can do better. We must do better, because when, whether through action or apathy, we allow the death of courtesy, civility, and decorum, in not just politics, but every area of our lives, it diminishes us all, and we the people are lesser as a society for it.