Finding Truth in Political Arguments

There are always two stories to tell in a political argument.

Which story you believe is up to you, but I urge you to find a third way that takes into

consideration both sides of the story. Let's use the recent letter given by the Republicans to Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid as an example.

You can find the full text here.

(gotta love stock photos, who argues like that?) ^

Democrat Spin

The Democrats have framed this letter as an ultimatum (do this, or else). It puts on paper the Republican tactic to filibuster (stall laws forever by wasting time) anything that does not directly address two issues:

1. Balancing the Budget = "funding the government"
2. Extending Bush tax cuts for everyone, including those who make $250,000 or more.

Democrats are upset because this has been the tactic of the Republican Party ever since Obama became President...they're probably even more pissed because it's been working. They see the Republicans as being obstructionists (sitting on their asses doing nothing and getting paid a lot for it).

Republican Spin

The Republicans are basically saying, "these two issues are the most important and we owe it to America to take care of them first." They say it is inappropriate to try to pass other legislation during a lame duck session (the newly elected people aren't in office yet) and that they should focus on what matters to the voters. Republicans also claim that raising taxes on the rich decreases the number of jobs they can provide and that

a large number of small business fall in the bracket of people who make $250,000 or more a year. Taxes raises would essentially be a job-killer.

The Third Way

Well, we should always begin with the problem at hand and be solution driven when it comes to public policy. Both sides have a point. The Republicans need to govern and stop their little political games, but so do the Democrats. And yes, we should deal with our budget problems, get our fiscal house in order and try to keep taxes at a reasonable rate. Hooray Republicans, way to put the important issues up front. Hooray Democrats for wanting to continue work through the lame duck session. Now get to work, I ain't payin' taxes for nothin' ya bums!!!

Bush Tax Cuts: The policy in question here is the budget and the Bush tax cuts. With our deficit and the costs of running our federal government, we need higher taxes. Our fiscal house is completely upside down and is definitely not smarter than a 5th grader. 5th graders know that if you have a dollar and something costs more that you can't buy it. We can't pass our spending burden and habits to them, it's just not fair. Time to suck it up and everyone shell out a little more. We couldn't afford the Bush tax cuts, so now is the time to undo them.

(Win: Democrats)

Budget: We need to get spending under control. We need to cut a lot of stuff from our budget, especially from the military. We spend more on our military than any other nation in the world by a long shot. Social Security needs a few changes and the retirement age has to go up. More importantly, health care costs must be brought down to reasonable levels. We pay more money for our healthcare than anywhere else and as a nation, we are embarrassingly unhealthy. Some of this was achieved in the health care bill that was just passed, but a lot more work needs to be done. Repealing health care would be a bad idea and studies have shown that it will reduce the deficit. I don't really care too much about all the studies, but I'd like to wait and see the effects before we repeal it. Give it a chance.

(Win: Republicans and Democrats on different items)

Cuts: Do not cut education. It is vital to the future prosperity of any country. Cut entitlement programs, streamline government agencies and get rid of stupid expensive things like those new body scanners that probably have produce harmful radiation waves.

(Win: Republicans and Democrats on different items, but more Republican win)

You win some and you lose some, but ultimately, the best way when you have two parties that hate each other is to find win:win situations as much as you can that make smart policy. Being policy driven and goal oriented forces those that hold onto strong opposing ideologies to find solutions. The parties differ most visibly according to culture and we shouldn't use our government to wage culture wars.

We should fight somewhere else...like on YouTube or useless Internet forums...or new TV shows that give us Liberal vs. Conservative in a Ring of Death!

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!!!

Russel was a badass in this movie.