Why I Hate Politics

Other than the uninformed idiots running loose on facebook, convinced that they, and only they, have a full grasp of the way our country should and shouldn't be run, the thing that really bothers me about politics is the complete lack of respect it seems to promote.

Political talk show hosts are bashed as biggots, racists, and yes, "The Anti-Christ," but only by those people who don't share the host's political views.  People fail to realize that these people are entertainers, not politicians and certainly not representative of an entire party.  I hear people condemning these entertainers constantly, one offense after another, but failing to realize that not only is it that person's *job* to try to get a rise out of you, your own party has entertainers just like that batting for the opposite side.  I'm tired of hearing about how, "Oh those Democrats/Republicans are so evil, just look at what right wing/left wing host said on his/her show last week.  They're all prejudice/self-absorbed/promoting hatred/the embodiment of evil/etc."  No.  No.  I'm sorry, but no.  A talk show host does not represent the views or personality of an entire party, and it is that person's job to be as outrageous as possible.  Do not run around sharing trending facebook statuses demanding apologies from a talk show host on behalf of their political party.  Do.  Not.  Do.  This.  It is absurd and silly.  It is called freedom of speech.  That person can say whatever the heck he wants to on his own show because we live in the bloody United States of America and if I want to have a television show about how much I hate cats and cats should all die, then I can bloody well do it and there's nothing you can do except change the bloody channel.  Stop trying to silence people or force them to apologize for having their own opinions.  If you don't agree with that person, you don't have to watch/listen to their show.  You can just ignore them.

This is the beginning of the problem with politics: thinking that one person's ideas represent the entire group's exactly.  I will tell you something: being a libertarian, I lean towards the right when voting, but that does not mean that Mitt Romney is a walking mouthpiece for everything that goes on in my head.  Whoever I choose to vote for, there are plenty of things that I may not necessarily agree with that that person does or says.  I will vote for the person that I agree with the most and who I think is what the country most needs at the present moment.  Stop assuming that one person can reflect what half the country is thinking.  That is impossible.  We get two choices.  Chances are, there isn't going to be someone that we are blindly and hopelessly in love with as a candidate.

Meanwhile, it is my #$@!&%* choice to vote for who I want, and I know you think you're being cute when you tell me not to bother voting, but you're actually seriously pissing me off and making yourself look like a jerk.  I have, in fact, recently been told by two separate people, the following:

Person #1: "You need, to vote Rachel.  We need your vote. [pause] You're not voting for Obama, are you?  Okay, well in that case, don't vote at all.  It's not like you have an understanding of politics as an unemployed 22 year old, anyway."

Person #2: "If you vote, you're voting for Romney?  Oh my God, never mind, please don't vote.  That's the last thing this country needs."

Excuse.  Me.

Look, I know both of these people were [sort of] joking.  They both happened to be very intelligent people, and very nice, kind people.  And yet this.  What is this?  I know you think it is a joke to ask someone not to vote if they don't agree with you, but do you not see how messed up that is?  If my candidate (whoever that may be) doesn't win, then you can bet I'm going to respect the fact that the greater majority (hopefully—sometimes our voting system is seriously screwed up) of Americans believed that that person was what was best for the country.  I may not always agree with the tactics.  I may not always like what that President/political rep. does, but I can respect the fat that they were voted into that office by the people and for the people.

Meanwhile, I'm sick and tired of political ad campaigns.  If I see one more commercial talking about all the things that are allegedly wrong with the opponent, rather than talking about that candidate's strengths, I'm going to scream.  When?  When did this become an acceptable way to run for office?  What did they teach you in #$&%)@ elementary school?  Why is it that as soon as people get into politics, respectfulness and admirable behavior become a second priority?  And even worse, why do these campaigns supposedly work?  That absolutely terrifies me for the American people, that we are apparently so malleable.  The moment I see an ad bashing a political opponent, my instinct is to not vote for the candidate running the ad, because they've resorted to mud-raking.

And then these candidates get into office, and it doesn't stop.  No matter who wins, they will spend the next 4-8 years claiming that anything that is wrong with the country or that they are unable to accomplish is the fault of their predecessor.  There's nothing Obama can do.  Bush screwed us all over.  There was nothing Bush could do.  He was cleaning up Clinton's mess.

I've had it.  I've bloody had enough of the excuses.  If you are elected to an office, it is because YOU convinced US that you could do something to help the situation.  If I hear one more time that "it's not so-and-so's fault.  They're still cleaning up such-and-such's mess," then all I'm going to say is, "Well then why the hell did you vote for someone who wouldn't be able to get anything done?"  You have 4, sometimes 8 years.  Do not tell me that you can't get anything accomplished because of the opposing party.  Your job is now to work with both parties.  Don't tell me you can't get anything done because of the "mess" someone else left you.  Your job is to move forward, not hide behind excuses.

I'm tired of people bashing each other and getting into heated arguments on facebook and even in person because they seem to be incapable of respecting the fact that someone else's opinion might be different from theirs.  I've got news for you.  You're wrong.  I'm wrong and you're wrong and everybody else is wrong some of the time.  Just because I believe in capitalism does not mean that socialism is wrong.  It means that some people have a different view on what the ideal way to run the country is.  Politics is all about opinion, and in case you've forgotten what you learned in first grade, an opinion is different from a fact.  You can't prove it.  You can argue it, you can back it up, but an opinion can still not be defined as right vs. wrong.  It is, simply, your opinion.  So stop pretending that anyone who doesn't agree with you is evil, inept, unintelligent, etc.  Or I will personally come and duct tape your mouth shut.