Just finished reading Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. Some interesting things in the book, an entertaining read. Up to now, I havent had any interest in politics (and I dont foresee this changing at all). I think part of the reason is that I've been in a country for the last 10 years where I cant vote, and the stuff going on in my home country is too distant for me to get really interested. So I dont follow politics. And, because of that, I probably have a very naive view.
But I dont get why people get so polarized around party lines. Each party has good things and bad things, politically, ideologically, economically, etc. Why do many people just blindly stay to one side, no matter what? It doesnt make sense to me. The way certain things are portrayed in the book its almost like the two sides hate each other and will do/say anything to screw with each other. (Now, I'm not saying Franken does this - in fact I think he does a decent job of presenting things fairly. But again, I dont think I know enough yet to be sure he is being completely transparent. I guess the best thing would be to read stuff from the other side. But the truth is I'm not interested.)
In my naive view of things, both sides are on the same team. And they should act like it. People should try to do the best job they can for their country, tinted of course by their beliefs and views. If things work out, great. If not, they will be replaced sooner or later - after all it is a democracy. But this blind other-party bashing seems ridiculous to me.
The sad part is, if it doesnt happen in the US where there is a reasonable amount of transparency and a will to do what is best for the country, what hope is there for a place like Mexico where most public officials are egregiously corrupt and only interested in enriching themselves and their cronies?
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