Post # 348, Bob McKnight's Florida Commentary
"How about if we let you win this one?"
America has been locked in a 50-50 political split among the 2 major political parties for over 50 years. It is unclear exactly when it started, but it was probably 1960 with the whisker-close election of Kennedy over Nixon. Some say it was close because Kennedy's father stole the election with the help of the Mafia.
The only one-sided election since then was probably in 1980 when President Reagan stomped President Carter.
With the close elections, animosity set in under the direction of Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1995. So with the close elections came vicious vitriol and mean-spiritedness from both sides.
With Donald Trump winning the presidency in an upset, a new level of discourse occurred and is evident today. Supporters of Trump say he is just 'telling it like it is,' and supporters of his opponents say, 'the rhetoric is destroying our democracy.' In any event, our country is at risk unless the political temperature is reduced.
A thought that I have advanced in political speeches, articles, papers, and commentary is:
What if Political Enemies Gave In? By that, I mean for example, what if Donald Trump were to agree that Kamala Harris was right about the need to put Roe v Wade back in law? Conversely, what if Kamala Harris were to agree with Donald Trump on the tariffs issue? It is unlikely that the world will end.
What if then Trump were to say that the U.S. should support Ukraine and urge Russia to agree to a cease-fire? What if Harris were then to agree that Trump's strict immigration conditions were to be adopted?
From that point, perhaps a civil and polite discussion could ensue. For each side to give up and give in might allow us to debate the issues again.
Just a thought.
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