Polar Opposites

Do you like to think that you are a pretty reasonable individual? Do you view other people as rational individuals who are capable of sifting through facts and potential results while on their way to formulating an opinion or decision? For the most part, everyone attempts to generate an educated decision, guess, or stance given the knowledge they have available. At least I want to believe that is the case. If our society fails to utilize information and instead focuses upon simple “gut instincts” as a basis for our decisions, then we only end up in polarized segments of society.

Doesn’t it seem like we are living in a polarized society? How often do you see our political candidates debating about the “middle” ground? How often do you, and those you observe, have conversations with people about religion, politics, environment, taxes, etc which do not degenerate into red faced, deep breathed, eye bulging, and shrill shouting fests? It seems as if we cannot have a standard conversation about hot issues anymore without being labeled a polar opposite or fringe supporter. The middle doesn’t seem to exist.

We live together because we are tolerant of each other’s differences. Society continues to work because we allow similarity to overcome our differences as a people. However, if we try and take our society beyond a simple acquaintance, we have major issues to deal with, issues that polarize us and separate us. These differences create overwhelming chasms between individuals that seem to boil over into us versus them or me versus you episodes.

Over time, our political parties have evolved, or devolved if you like, into polar opposites of each other. If one party chooses a particular stance, automatically, the other chooses the exact opposite. Common ground appears to be lost between them. The media pushes these differences and creates a deeper valley of opposition between people because it satisfies their need for sensationalist news reporting (ratings). They need polar opposites and they want to create voter blocks that are in fact divided because it’s easier to cajole a vote out of a “manufactured” voter segment.

This same ideology applies to news in print, online, and on the radio. They are all working on creating voter blocks by polarizing the people listening. The middle ground is much harder to sway and win.  They are actually listening to each side while utilizing facts and information to determine their stance on each and every issue.   The middle does not haphazardly apply a blanket stamp of approval based upon party lines.

How do you approach your decision making? Do you make an effort to listen to both sides of the story and dig deep for additional information or do you listen to the “guy” from your affiliated party and jump in line toting the media bylines as conversation ammunition? Remember, they WANT you to know nothing. They want you yelling and screaming vehemently about the cause using their campaign taglines and propaganda.

Make an effort to learn more and become an informed voter and you will more than likely return to the middle ground rather than be polarized like the media and political parties wish for you to be. Republicans have good ideas and so do Democrats. If we were on middle ground, our government wouldn’t be in the state it is, pulling apart at the seams while nothing is accomplished. Polarized society and government has led us to the dire state we are in.

Stop yelling the “approved” party lines and start investigating. Information is the key. Sometimes you may not like what you find, but an informed voter is worth more than the lemming they are trying to make you and me. Make your vote count, make them earn it, don’t become a media and political party polarized voter just because it’s easier. We need to come together in the middle ground as a nation and until we know more than what the media tells us, we cannot make an informed decision. Step out of the line and learn.