It’s so easy to forget this fact that people get into politics because they believe they can improve their community. humanizing opponents is incredibly hard to do in current US politics. Believing that the opposition is also trying to do the best thing, that the disagreement stems from the base presumptions; whether X is a better goal than Y.
Exempli gratia, on both sides of the row there are individuals who believe personal freedom and abortion are important. What are seemingly dissonant beliefs are actually evaluated with underlying values. If God says abortions are bad; constitutional freedoms can’t compete.
Now I’m done playing with fire. During these politically hellish times I implore everyone to remember that in spite of the vilification, politicians are doing what they think is best. The question is what they think is important and are their statements supported by behavior. Whether or not that’s the only reason people get into politics is for much, much later.
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