Alt-Left vs Alt Right

There is no such thing. Alt-Right maybe is a thing, but there is no Alt-Left. In the old day – that would be at least 20 years ago and more! – descriptions of left and right were much different than they are today in 2017.

I recall a discussion last Thanksgiving with my former wife. She had been reading my blog posts and opined that I had become far more liberal than what she remembered. I calmly stated that I remain a centrist as I have mostly been in my adult life, but perhaps what she is noticing is the distance between what I espouse compared with her current conservative position. I queried: Is it possible you have moved farther right than you had noticed?

And that’s the point I wish to make today. The liberal, or so-called left, is really the old Democrat position of social programs that are large enough to care for the people who really need systemic assistance. The problems are so large only a large, central government program will suffice if we expect lasting change and outcomes. Caring for one another, building the commonweal of a nation, is actually what we are talking about here. How well is the health care system actually helping people be well and keep well? Is it so costly as to price out of reach the needs of the lower income folk? If that is so, then what do we need to do about that? Surely an American society we believe in and love would respond to such need?

That response is the liberal response. So is Planned Parenthood, educational standards that ensure all of our kids are getting a good, solid education in the public school systems.

Conservatives would say no to all of that. They would claim it is the responsibility of each individual and their family to care for their own. If they want more in life, they must work harder to earn the income that makes purchasing for their needs possible.

I understand that but I also understand that systemic misfiring of the economy, of the political system, and of so much more, actually holds many people back from doing well for themselves. And that holds the rest of us back as well.

Overall, I think the conservatives are getting more conservative. More reactionary, too. And they don’t realize it. So, in comparison with others, they think the others are becoming more liberal. I suggest they re-examine their situation and study if my idea might have merit in their case.

If I’m right then the alt-left vs alt-right argument is bogus and needs to be scrapped. That will go a long way in cooling hot tempers much on display these days.

I’ve suggested before – and I re-suggest it now – that we identify a list of traits we think should describe America. What are the characteristics that we Americans believe in and want to be known for? Those are the things we should focus on, not what is different among us. For example, I think we can agree that we do honestly care about those less fortunate than ourselves. What we do about the people with problems is an action item yet to be agreed upon. But if those folks hold the nation back from solving other issues intelligently, then we need to help those people sooner rather than later. We want them to be a plus for the nation, not a drag.

Same with infrastructure. I see it as an investment in our nation, in our ability to get things done. We can’t very well do that if storm water surges flood homes, streets and cities. We must have dams and waterways that control such periodic storm waters. Same for roads and bridges. We must provide those if we want people to get to and from work and shopping and service districts. And schools, we need an educated workforce to support employers. And we need intelligent voters to vote on facts and logical issues rather than feelings and suspicions.

All of those items are investments in our nation and its people. And for what reason? For the common good of everyone. We all benefit from this sort of investment.

Let’s face this one fact: commerce benefits from schools, roads and bridges. And many other aspects of social life in America as well. We all pay for that with taxes. Often businesses do not pay the same taxes; they are lessened to encourage more investment in commerce and industry. They benefit without realizing how much society is subsidizing them. Yes; that’s a fact! Most of those folks, however, think they are subsidizing society. They would be wrong in that conclusion.

So rather than fighting each other on the streets of Charlottesville or Phoenix, why not engage in worthwhile discussions that actually get us somewhere?

That would be a refreshing change from today’s vitriol. Worth a try?

August 28, 2017