No more my-side, your-side thinking
“Too clever by half” — I remember hearing that comment by adults when I was a child, and I think it applies to author Michael J. Knowles’ new best-selling book. Perhaps his wordless book titled, “Reasons to Vote for Democrats,” was intended to completely discredit the political party; instead, it simply reveals his empty-headed partisanship.
If we are dismayed by the gridlock of Washington, then let’s not waste our money supporting such a stunt. The problems we are facing as a nation and as a world require us to hear all perspectives and to rise above simplistic yes-no, right-wrong, my side-your side thinking. We need to inform ourselves at a deep and complex level and to engage in flexible, compassionate, and imaginative problem-solving.
After all, rigorous fact-finding, interpretation, and discussion toward a decision that promotes the common good is what the democratic process is all about.
Martha McGovern
Williamstown