Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. — James Bovard

Extreme rhetoric diminishes us all

With another major political election on the cusp, I’m remembering many of the same in my past.

The first major elections I recall was that of Eisenhower Vs Stevenson in 1956. Though my dad was a democrat, as a WWII veteran the threw his support behind Eisenhower.

The presidential elections in 1960 were more acrimonious with Nixon and Kennedy going at each other with sharpened claws.

After that, Johnson and Goldwater battled it out followed by Johnson and Nixon, (before Johnson threw in the towel) then there was a fuzzy time with disgraced Nixon replaced by a middle of the road Jerry Ford.

Ford was replaced by a rather liberal Jimmy Carter, who then lost to a right wing Ronald Reagan.

A Republican moderate, George Bush replaced Reagan, and Bush was replaced by a somewhat moderate Democrat, Bill Clinton.

Another republican moderate, George W Bush took over after Clinton.

After two terms, a somewhat liberal Barack Obama took over the reigns, for his own two terms.

Donald Trump (his political leaning is unresolved, in my opinion)  took over one term, and was replaced by moderate Joe Biden.

Joe Biden was then replaced by another term for Donald Trump.

Now we have mid-terms going on and they’re nastier than anything I’ve seen to date. Very discouraging.

In my opinion it’s all about balance, when a party leaning one way holds power for any length of time, understandably, they are replaced by a party leaning the other way.

I don’t expect much to change. I would hope the extreme rhetoric and policy makers on both ends would move toward the middle. Rationality and compromise makes for better results all the way around.

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