We Are All Americans … Right?

[Guest Contributor - Donald G. Mutersbaugh Sr.]

I remember growing up in a nation that, regardless of political affiliation, recognized the fact that we all loved our country and we all were Americans. There were basically two major parties, and all political discussion seemed to center around being either a Republican or Democrat in one’s affiliation and beliefs. Fast-forward to now: we are a mess. We have become very uncivilized in our discussions. It seems as if amplitude is the new supplement for beliefs that we hold; the louder we are, the more correct we must be. We have become very intolerant if anyone believes something that we don’t believe: the new negotiator is “It’s my way or the highway.”

This is further compounded by the fact that our country is under attack from within by the social and political mobilization of the younger generations by our schools and other liberal institutions which are generally controlled by leftist thinkers. For some reason everyone feels entitled; suddenly communism and socialism don’t look so bad – everybody should be treated fairly and equally regardless of contribution. Consider the following about “proud Americans”:

“Currently, 32% of Democrats -- down from 43% in 2017 and 56% in 2013 -- are extremely proud. The decline preceded the election of Donald Trump but has accelerated in the past year.

“Less than half of independents, 42%, are also extremely proud. That is down slightly from 48% a year ago, and 50% in 2013.

“As has typically been the case, Republicans are more inclined to say they are extremely proud to be Americans than are Democrats and independents. Seventy-four percent [74%] of Republicans are extremely proud, which is numerically the highest over the last five years.” https://news.gallup.com/poll/236420/record-low-extremely-proud-americans.aspx

We now have become such a fragmented nation with regard to the political process, that it is no longer a question of the left or the right; now it is the far, far left and the far, far right – and a whole lot of other positions in between. While I believe that this intolerance is more prevalent with the Democrats, communication requires both a sender and a receiver – and I really don’t believe that’s happening on either side. One of the biggest problems we have is we don’t have freedom of speech any longer. Why? Examples are political correctness, fear of offending somebody, and the need to interrupt someone else before they complete their thought – I don’t want to hear it!

The latest new weapon used by the liberals is to claim that they are a victim of something. It becomes a fight on the left to prove who has the greatest claim to victimhood. Interestingly enough, this seems to be pushing the left to becoming even further to the left and further away from Main Street thinking. Even worse, is the fact that if you disagree with any of this liberal thinking, you’re guilty of some form of discrimination or as yet to be named phobia.

Let’s sample some “un-American” activity starting with Maxine Waters. “A senior California Democratic lawmaker added some fresh fuel to the raging debate over civility in politics with a call for public confrontations with Trump administration officials.

‘If you think we're rallying now you ain't seen nothing yet,’ Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif, told supporters at a rally in Los Angeles over the weekend. ‘If you see anybody from that (Trump) Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere.’ https://www.npr.org/2018/06/25/623206039/congressional-leaders-criticize-maxine-waters-for-urging-confrontation The Democrat’s mantra: Understanding, acceptance and tolerance. How about:

“[Sarah] Sanders was at the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington on Friday when the owner approached and asked Sanders to leave. The owner…told the Washington Post she believes Sanders works for an ‘inhumane and unethical’ administration.

“Sanders isn't the only Trump aide or ally to face critics in recent days. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was heckled at a movie theater in Tampa on Friday. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen had to leave a Mexican restaurant in Washington, D.C., last week as hecklers protested the administration's immigration policy. Critics also rallied outside her Virginia home.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/red-hen-restaurant-kicks-out-sarah-sanders-sparking-debate-about-confronting-trump-allies/

One other Democrat being touted by some as the future face of the Democratic Party, recently elected Ocasio-Cortez, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Many members of the Democratic Party are being pulled further to the left towards socialism; what the Democrats haven’t figured out yet is that a substantial part of their voter base came from countries where this form of government failed – and they don’t want to go back to it. Check out her beliefs at https://www.dsausa.org/about_dsa .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y says, “America is a place where we all come together. It is a place of consensus.” It would be nice if it were true. “Substantively Democrats are much closer to where the American people are than Republicans are.” https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/chuck_schumer Don’t think so. Consider:

“Most recently, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said that the ‘first thing’ Democrats should do if they take control back of the House and Senate is abolishing all immigration enforcement through disbanding ICE.” However, “Nobody wants ICE going away. That’s ridiculous,’ [Sarah] Chamberlain said. ‘That is our first line of security. So for the Democrats to be saying that … it’s not resonating back in our GOP districts.” https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/24/exclusive-pollster-democrats-abolish-ice-campaign-not-resonating-in-swing-districts/

Why are we so uncivil? One reason is that the Democratic Party is spiraling out of control because of the Iron Law of Institutions: “The Iron Law of Institutions is: the people who control institutions care first and foremost about their power within the institution rather than the power of the institution itself. Thus, they would rather the institution "fail" while they remain in power within the institution than for the institution to "succeed" if that requires them to lose power within the institution.” http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/001705.html

Closely related to this is “The ongoing contest between the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders wings of the Democratic Party continues to divide Democrats. It’s urgent Democrats stop squabbling and recognize seven basic truths ….”https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/01/reich-7-hard-truths-democrats-future-bleak-without-radical-reforms.html Check the site out.

Trump won – get over it! Support the President who was duly and legally elected by the people of the United States of America. By continually trying to sabotage his agenda – and him personally – you are not doing a very good job of representing the people who elected him. MAGA! Be an American first and a Democrat second!

Donald G. Mutersbaugh, Sr. earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and his Master of Business Administration degree from Mary Washington College. He is the former Associate Administrator of Information Resources for the U.S House of Representatives under Speaker Newt Gingrich.