Last night didn't deliver the election results I'd have liked to see but there was progress. I'm impressed that so many people came out to vote; that large numbers of young people chose to get involved; and that women have made inroads across the board. I'd be even more impressed if members of both parties could learn to build bridges based on shared values rather than investing all their energy hurling invectives, fomenting fear, and promoting division within the population.
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All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I would have grabbed a camera and rushed out, too... I agree with everything you said about the election - especially this part: " I'd be even more impressed if members of both parties could learn to build bridges based on shared values rather than investing all their energy hurling invectives, fomenting fear, and promoting division within the population." Amen to that. Hopefully it won't take as long as teaching pigs how to fly.
ReplyDelete~Anna K
How do we teach (or incentivize) politicians to collaborate and cooperate? That's an interesting question. The election process is too slow to react so constituents have to remain involved - and model the behavior they expect in their representatives too.
DeleteA moment too gorgeous not to capture and share! I share your dream for politicians.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had many impressive sunsets of late. My husband chalked this one up to a heavier than normal layer of smog.
DeleteA glorious sunset indeed. We followed your midterms with great interest, and I agree with your statement about politicians. It is encouraging to see younger people winning seats...I think they are our greatest hope.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised when I heard the stats on the low percentage of younger people who normally vote in our elections, Jane - I don't think I've missed a national election since I turned 18. But I think gun control, the cost of higher education, social equality concerns, and the affects of climate change are now grabbing the attention of many in the way that the Vietnam War galvanized an earlier generation.
DeleteAll of that color would lure me outside too. That is a sunset to not forget.
ReplyDeleteI am with you about the elections and trying to get along to get ahead.
"Compromise" seems to have become a dirty word even though it's fundamental to the effectiveness of our political system. The public needs to give that some long, hard consideration too.
DeleteIt's a beautiful view. Your views about the political outcome are well stated and I concur.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara.
DeleteSo agree with your statement. It seems that if someone disagrees with your opinion, they are the enemy. When did we become a country of such division?
ReplyDeleteI've banged my head against the wall on that question for some time, Cindy. People on both sides have developed fears that need to be pulled into the sunlight and examined against facts. The name calling, dismissal of criticism as "fake news," and failure to seek factual information to resolve disputes concerns me greatly. I miss Walter Cronkite but I have to wonder if even he would be vilified in the current environment.
DeleteI've been known to do the same, leaping up, exclaiming and causing the dog to bark excitedly. :) Our sky tonight was similarly lit - makes walking at sunset a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful about at least the House balancing the Senate and the numbers of voter turnout. The last election was a wake up call that helped that perhaps. Still, I'm perplexed why only half those registered showed. It seems pretty important to me to do so.
It seems to me that a lot of Americans still take their rights for granted and don't appreciate the responsibilities of citizenship, Eliza.
DeleteEach Linda World: I’m feeling a rosy post-election glow!
ReplyDeleteYou and the state of Wisconsin have every right to that post-election glow, Linda.
DeleteAmen to that. We are manipulated into division much of the time, for profit.
ReplyDeleteI agree, HB, although I don't understand why more people aren't so furious about being manipulated that they take the pains to check the authenticity and and integrity of what they hear.
DeleteHow do you make people aware that they ARE being manipulated?
DeleteMy mother was interested in the Suffragettes and I have lived thru New South African elections. Our Born Frees are hopefully focused on voting for their future.
It isn't easy! I think people need to train themselves to be both skeptical and curious, especially with regard to issues on which the population is strongly divided. That goes for points made on both sides of the political spectrum. I can recall instances in which people I know on both sides of a divide accepted conclusions based on positions taken by people in their social media feeds without any effort to verify the facts. In 2 cases in particular, I found fact-checking resources that shot holes in the stories they were told; however, what I found frustrating was that even intelligent people are sometimes unwilling to adjust their positions based on new information. I've heard of more schools helping young children develop critical thinking skills (a version of the old "trust but verify" mindset) - I put my hope in those kids.
DeleteYep, that was definitely worth capturing.
ReplyDeleteDinner can always wait but sunsets won't!
DeleteI'd say that's more than "just" a pretty picture. Wowza! How wonderful to have a view like that. I was a little more content with the election results because we have a new governor, so I'm hopeful things will get better in our state. As you say, progress is good!
ReplyDeleteWe're still waiting for settlement of some House races here in California but overall we did okay.
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