There’s a bumper sticker we all know well: “Don’t blame me, I voted for the other guy.” For some reason, people seem to view this only with Presidential blinders. What about the House? What about State Houses, and Governors? How do they fit into this angry elephant “Take our country back!” balderdash?
I’m basically a liberal. Fair enough. However I very much do agree with Rush and Beck, and all the rights restricting, abortion banning, health care hating right-wing people out there: the country is going to hell (partially because there’s far too much religion in our politics now, but that’s for another post).
But don’t blame me… I voted for the other guys.
Politics is a team sport. Republicans get this, and Democrats are very slowly realizing it, but are still overly optimistic that the type of compromises that we had even a decade ago are just not possible with the “team” that we now have in power in the United States. I’m not talking just the leaders, I’m talking about everyone who runs this country all the way down to city halls. The “team”, the other guys I certainly didn’t vote for, are the ones causing all the chaos, hate, and fear…. and how convenient that all the blow horns have the ability to focus that on one man: the President.
In 2010 the Republicans picked up over 60 seats in the House… but that’s not the whole story. Anyone who pays attention also knows there were numerous state houses and governors offices won by less than compromising Republicans.
Geographically, pay attention: all the “red states” where the signs are the biggest and shouts the loudest that the country is going to hell… those states are run by Republicans. Very extreme social / moral issues being passed at lightening speed, voting rights being restricted and unions busted to stay in power (which is fully admitted now, so no point denying it anymore). But hey! YOU voted for them, right? And yet you feel everything is horendous.
I agree with you. But the reason is NOT the President. The reasons are the direct result of the 2010 influx of uncompromising, far too socially conservative Republicans. Had that NOT happened at least compromise would have been possible.
The point is: every elected official runs this country. You cannot bumpersticker blame onto one person. Ask: who is running the states? Who is running the House (and Senate for that matter with the unprecedented number of filibusters)? If you think the country is going to hell… why aren’t you blaming them, too? They’re the ones who have voted 31 times to repeal a law that helps you (Affordable Health Care Act), even though that vote is meaningless. How’s that for “jobs, jobs, jobs” ?
Politics is a team sport. You cannot vote for people who refuse to pass the ball so someone else who has a better angle can make the shot.
But don’t blame me, I voted for the other guys.
