The Impeachment of Donald Trump
Joe Biden has been President now for 21 days now. In his address he spoke of unity, that we need to come together as one country, not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans. While I will admit to the fact that I did not vote for President Biden, I agree with him that we need to come together as a nation. As the Senate begins the impeachment process, it makes me wonder about how we got here as a nation. Who or what is at fault? When did we become a nation so bitterly divided? I look back to the days of my youth, the presidency of Ronald Reagan, were we this divided then? Go back further to the election of 1960. President Kennedy won that election with an Electoral college vote of 303-219. President Biden won by a very similar number of 306-232. So we have been a nation divided before, not all elections are landslides. While President Kennedy clearly had missteps and issues as President, he also had successes, like putting the country on the path to land a man on the moon and safely return him to earth.
I have had a theory and a thought for sometime now. I firmly believe that what separates Americans is far less than what ties us together. I believe that what we collectively want as Americans is about 90% the same…it’s the 10% the divides us. You can debate the percentages, but I would bet that any number is higher than 50/50. My thoughts on what binds us as to our wants…
- A Safe Place to live and raise our families.
- A home to live in.
- A Good Job to be able to provide for ourselves and our families.
- An ability to get a good education. Not only college but trade schools as well…news flash…College isn’t for everyone.
- The ability to express our thoughts and ideas, without ridicule.
- The ability to express ourselves, again without ridicule.
- Great infrastructure
- Medical care
I know that this list can clearly be longer, but this would be a great start.
Back to where did we go astray? Is it the fault of social media? I think that plays a part. Back in the day you had to face someone to be mean to them. You had to watch the human element of how your words could damage or hurt a person. We have lost some of that humanity with Social Media. We have so many keyboard warriors who do great damage with a few keystrokes. I have had the honor of serving as an elected official for almost 12 years now. I try my best to make decisions in the best interest of residents and taxpayers of Plainfield Township. I have some folks that I like to call “The Tony Fremarek Fan Club”, who apparently know me so well, know how I think, why I do things, etc…even though most of these “fans” have never spent a minute talking with me. Would these keyboard warriors say those same things to my face, perhaps, or perhaps not. Am I willing to talk with them and listen to concerns and opinions on issues important to them. Absolutely.
I worry that our children deal with this on a regular basis and have become either numb or jaded towards it. How many kids today are bullied on social media? I bet the numbers are higher than reported? The better question…how many adults are bullied on Social Media? How many of us are guilty of attacking others over a difference of opinions? We can have debate…but why does it need to be personal attacks? Why can’t we agree to disagree? With that said, I’m not sure how our leaders, many of them part of the Baby Boomer generation, have lost the ability to communicate and share ideas and opinions, without a winner take all mentality. Where is the art of compromise? In most business transactions, I tell my clients that in a deal everyone should feel a little anxiety after a deal is done…if both parties feel like they gave up on some issues, and won others, then that is the art of compromise. If one person got everything they wanted…then either they had low expectations, or the other party got screwed. What happened to the ability to debate the issues, and to genuinely listen to others? Trust me…I don’t see this as a Republican issue or a Democrat issue…I see this as an issue with Americans.
Where does this leave us? More thoughts for another day…but let me leave you with this. As we begin the impeachment process…one that has a forgone conclusion of acquittal, can’t our elected officials be doing something more constructive? Why? Because As Americans, we Don’t Suck!!!