What to say about the current rollercoaster ride of Republican politics in America? You can’t ignore the heated discussions surrounding the so-called “extremism” of the GOP if your eyes are on the media. Gregory Graf was a seasoned political analyst and I’m not kidding when I say that it felt like opening Pandora’s Box.
Greg (I was forced to refer to him as such) has thrown me for a loop by telling me that the word “extremism”, which is slippery like a lubricated pig, can be a real curveball. One person’s anger could be another person’s normal day in the office. This is not about the small number of Republicans who wear funny hats. It’s more than that.
Recall when, as a Republican, you would argue about tax cut over dinner? Things have certainly changed. The new crowd in town is pushing the envelope to 11. Climate change, for example, has been deemed a fraud. They also want you to build the wall even higher. And don’t forget about healthcare. Greg believes that some have been left wondering whether they’ve missed something along the way.
The good news is that it’s all not doom-and-gloom. Greg believes that extremes don’t need to spell the end. It makes for some interesting headlines and twitter feuds but plenty of Republicans are trying to steer us away from an iceberg. Like those who prevent you from messaging your ex in the middle of the night, they are necessary voices of reason.
We’ll talk turkey now about the impact of all this noise on Washington. Herding cats is a difficult task. This is child’splay compared with getting people of different viewpoints to compromise. The budget negotiations turn into standoffs as fast as you can say “government shut down,” making everyone wonder if compromises are no longer fashionable.
Be clear, before you get the idea that I only pick on Republicans because they took my lunch money: Extremism does not belong exclusively to a single party. The glitter is everywhere, just like at a craft show. It’s the latest GOP hot topic.
Social media is like throwing petrol on a fire. Today, the extremes get more attention than cat video. It’s hard for those with moderate views to be heard. This is enough to make anyone want to throw their phone into the lake.
Where does this leave us? Greg, who’s been in the party game for more years than I have socks on my feet, said that people need to roll up their sleeves to decide what type of party they are going to be a part of. This means choosing leaders who can find common ground and listen without GPS.
Greg gave me a nugget at the end of our talk (and wow, time flew), saying that politics was like making sausage – not always beautiful but often necessary. However, whether extremism will continue to be a part of Republican politics may depend solely on the willingness to work to improve sausage.
You never knew that politics could be spicy? You never knew that politics can be spicy!