Compromise is key (in marriage and) in government

Happy Friday!

Readers. It feels like it's been forever since my last post. That would make sense if I hadn't posted just last Friday... Yeah, it's been a long week. I had three tests/quizzes in three days. Hold up. Not finished quite yet. Also, I have a humanities test on Monday, 9 a.m. At least I have the weekend to study.

Ugh. Sorry for getting side-tracked. Readers, it's Friday. Whatever seems overwhelming now or if there is anything you're worried about, take a break and enjoy it. Unless it's life or death, then of course continue on, but if not, go take a chill pill and relax. 

With the caucuses coming up on Monday, it got me thinking about our government and democracy. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it's something that I believe needs to be said. Democracy in America is hurting, at worst, dying, of infection. A country founded on the idea of a "government of the people, by the people, for the people" (Gettysburg Address; concept originated with John Wycliffe) wasn't thought to last. In American fashion, we didn't give up, and we eventually became an example other countries looked to and proof of democracy can persevere and thrive. But, sometime in the last 239 years, democracy in America seems to be unfavorably changing. 

Today's issue of immigration and border control? New York's Lady Liberty welcomed millions upon millions of immigrants starting in the late 1800's. This country has a past with welcoming people of different countries. I beg the question: what's so different these days that makes us want to force people from coming into the country? They possibly want to come here for a better life, and who are we to deny them that? It seems a little hypocritical to me. 

We elect leaders to represent us, but do they do what they said they would (to get our vote)? Sometimes they do. There are elected leaders in government who try their hardest to get the bills passed they think will benefit or improve the life of this country's citizens. The catch is that there are elected leaders who maybe don't care about the particular issue or don't agree with the proposed plan of action. That's completely fine. It's understandable even, but what's not understandable is fighting over who is right and who is in the wrong and producing nothing. Elected officials seemingly forgot that a key element in running a government (and a good marriage) is compromise. Instead of working together to create a plan that has the promise of helping American citizens, some elected officials forget in order to "win some, you lose some". 

We seem to let our pride or stubbornness blind us and maybe even determine our decisions and actions toward others. Just because you believe something different from the person sitting next to you in class or the person sitting across from you on the bus doesn't determine whether or not you can get along or be friends. If we, as citizens, can learn to accept that people and their beliefs could be different from ours and the elected government officials work together to improve the quality of life of this nation's people, we are definitely on the right track to reviving what the founding fathers's vision of democracy they wanted for this country.

Until next week,

Thought of the day