Gridlock/Competition R Healthy. Y Don't Some Americans Get That?

I am not a political blogger, and usually don’t write about things like this. I also realize there is the risk of sounding awful and negative and people having a big problem with me about writing this, but It is an important topic. I keep hearing people talking about how the politicians are ripping each other apart and how awful it is and how if people could just get along, it would be better. Even within the same party. I keep hearing about the ugliness of it and how people don’t like gridlock and want the sides to work together as well.

Have I suddenly fallen into Alice in Wonderland or has America lost it’s mind? Are we not watching a race where people are competing against each other? Are we not watching politicians trying to show their stuff the best way they can, so the people can narrow down to 1 candidate on each side and can decide which person best represents them and how they would like to see their country? That process requires competition and people not being nice to each other doesn’t it? It requires not being all of the same collective mind.

Somehow when people watch sports, they understand that one team wins and one team loses. They understand that both teams are going to try and hard as they can to knock the other one out. They revel in that competition and root for whatever winner they want. You never hear anyone say they would like to see both teams cross that finish line hand in hand and not compete and most times the competition is fierce and nasty and people want that. I think that’s ok. I think most people think it’s ok. It is the nature of the competition and is necessary. Yet when it comes to anything political, people suddenly act like they are repulsed by the same process. It is a weeding out process and there can only be 1 winner. The nature of that process is conflict oriented and needs to be as such.

This thing about electing the candidate that has the best ability to reach across the aisle also has me baffled and maybe people can comment on this post and clarify it for me. There could not be 2 more different sides than the left and right today. They stand for far different things. Once again, if we use the theory of equalizing things so everyone can give each other a big hug and kiss and agree on everything without fighting, we do not have a real representative republic. The fighting and the presentation of differing opinions is what has always made America great. The concept of reaching across the aisle to become like each other is the importing of Socialism, where there is only one opinion that has to be come to by all, and no one can have a different opinion. That is not America. Maybe recently, sadly, it has become America but not traditionally.

I am not a politician or a political blogger, but I have seen it happen many times with schools and the kids I have worked with on the topic of participation awards that are handed out. Everyone wins so no one strives for excellence. Everyone has to have the same voice, same opinion, and same outcome so no one is hurt or upset. To me this is the most destructive and ugly thing that could ever happen in any country anywhere and is far worse than any of the quibbling or bickering I have seen lately in politics. I’d rather see the passion that comes out of differing opinions.

I wrote an article many years ago when schools decided to drop the Valedictorian honor because they felt that some kids could not reach that status. It made me sad then for both the kids who found it easy to reach that status and the ones who would have had to push themselves that much harder to get there. Both kids lost in this race for mediocrity. The push now for striving for mediocrity and the dawning of the “Stepford” formation of opinion, where everyone is nice instead of honest and competitive, is truly a sad ending to that story and maybe our culture and future.

I hope someday to see a renewal of the drive to win and the knowledge that making everyone equal is the way to the bottom, not the top. Either that, or I will expect that soon, the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB will all stop competing, start holding hands and agree that all teams win no matter how they play. If that comment turned your stomach as much as mine, then I know you get it. Comments are appreciated!

Dr. Sherri is a Child and Family Processing and Motivation expert seeing people via webcam. She can be reached at here.