Politics has to become more than parties

Every school morning, children say the pledge of allegiance at school and learn about how great our country is supposed to be. 

As an adult I wonder when our country will live up to its name again.

The United States are nowhere near being united, and haven’t been for a long time. It’s not just about opinions, it’s about how we handle disagreements. 

In debate we no longer care to find a compromise, it’s about winning and nothing else. 

That’s evident in our politics, on any online forum, and in everyday conversation. 

Our country can’t even decide on climate change. 

A code red has been issued for the world and people still refuse to believe in climate change. 

In some cases that occurs simply because the political party a person identifies with doesn’t agree with it. 

Since when has anyone completely agreed with their neighbor? Their best friend? Their sibling? 

So why are we pledging absolute loyalty to parties that care more about what lobbyists say than the people who vote for them? 

Most people aren’t political extremists and are in fact closer to the middle of the political spectrum than on it’s fringes. However, in a move to insure votes, parties have created a divide. 

In today’s world, you are either Republican or Democrat, you can’t have mixed values or be unidentified. 

The political parties have convinced us what the party says is gospel and we don’t need to know anything except that the other party is bad. 

We elect pedophiles, rapists, racists, or anyone the parties tell us to. Furthermore, because the parties say “No matter what, vote our way because the other way is worse,” we do it. 

The people we elect are supposed to represent our morals and values, so why are we settling? Why does seem that we’re always  choosing the lesser of two evils. 

Why do we act like it’s a crime to criticize the people we put in power? We should demand more from our representatives than a tag that says Republican or Democrat. 

It can’t just be party lines anymore, the world isn’t black and white and politics isn’t just blue or red. Something always has to give. 

Americans are tired of giving. 

We want what benefits us or our party no matter the consequences. Even if it might hurt someone else.  

The rich are too afraid to lose even a sliver of what they have and to keep it they’ll sell the American dream of climbing the ladder to success. 

The people with money and influence will keep speaking through the representatives we chose and they control.

 Normal people won’t have an actual say in politics until we can find common ground again. It’s better to compromise, if you stop only thinking about yourself and start to take other people’s experiences into account. 

When did we all stop caring about helping each other and where are the communities that used to work together to create a better tomorrow?

 It’s time to care about what happens to other people because selfishness is what got us here but it will never be what gets us out.