Left vs. Right or Left meet Right.

So it's been a while since I posted anything. But lately I've been kind of concerned about a few things, so I want to address one of them with some thoughts.

We live in a suuuuper divisive time right now. It's fairly depressing. I know these folks care about the country, as do I. However, we are unfortunately pitted against each other in a way that guts, are hated, bricks are thrown, and lies are weaved deep.

I am very generally left inclined. A liberal. But that doesn't mean I don't have, but more importantly recognize, any conservative values. Most notably, I believe in a Free Market and Competition. Without getting into an entire article detailing how I define those two terms, I also don't believe that "Free" and "Competition" entails allowing us to tear each other apart with lawyers and money as the weapon. I also recognize the inefficiency our government seems to exemplify. However, I don't think that means we just axe government programs (even the inefficient ones); we need to refine how the system is run (I won't go into the "how" now though as that is another article altogether).

For a long time now, I viewed republicans as the enemy; as the troop out for themselves, not the country; and as the group of people who wouldn't know an education if it fell into the back of their trucks. I mean, I always "knew" there were smart ones out there, but held the view that they were dominated by idiots.

Now I'm trying to refocus my thoughts on that ratio. Not because I don't think there are idiots that belong to the party, but because I don't think it's fair to judge the platform by the most radical voices under it. When I say radical, I don't mean in terms of ideology, I mean in terms of profile; that is to say that extreme idiots don't need to represent the rational thinkers. Here's why I needed to specify "radical." People like Ron Paul exist; and even though I understand his views may be a little extreme, as well as hard-right, I would almost definitely rather see him in office than most of the more mainstream Republicans. Hell, at this point, I'd rather give him a shot than I would many Democrats these days. Why? Because he's not bought, or a bot.

This brings me to the main point of this article. The real enemy is not the Right. Nor is my real ally the Left. The biggest threat to the United States' future actually exists within both parties and has a very secure seat where it lies. This threat is Corporatism. Special Interests. I don't know much about what to do about it, but I pretty firmly believe now that we have more trustworthy people residing in the radically positioned ideologies of either the Left or Right, than we do at the center of the spectrum.

I don't know if there's anything I can actually add at this point to further justify my point, so I'll just leave it there.

Many Nights DTC

Addison.