As I visit political websites across the spectrum trying to promote the Anti Drudge Report by commenting on various articles and blogs, I find myself shocked at the vitriol that is out there on both sides.  Between the Right Wing claiming that a socialist world order is being forced upon them and the far Left calling for armed revolt against a capitalist conspiracy to enslave the masses, it is difficult to see how we are ever going to be able to find common ground upon which the solutions to our problems can be found.  While I know that the anonymity of the internet gives people a certain bravado that they wouldn’t otherwise exhibit, the throwing around of words like “don’t retreat, reload’ and threatening violence in the streets similar to what’s just happened in the UK if certain policies aren’t enacted demonstrate that we are becoming increasingly reactionary at a time when our economic situation calls out for a calm, reasoned approach. 

America has always been a country rich in political viewpoints and there is nothing wrong with healthy discourse, but at what point do we try to step back and consider the possibility that the other side may have at least some small point worthy of exploring?  What are the odds of you being right about every single issue?  We complain about our elected officials not being able to compromise while we demonize and dismiss each other on a daily basis because of differing viewpoints.  So many of the online debates end with veiled threats of an impending revolution when this or that happens, but like a schoolyard bully, most of the talk is cheap.  I don’t think nearly as many people want a revolution as the number that claim to want one.  Americans like their trash picked up.  We want our pay checks to clear.  We want what’s left of our money to be safe in the bank. 

A few years back, my favorite comedian, Doug Stanhope, came up with a classic response when a crowd was complaining loudly about the poor sound system during the warm-up act at a show in Los Angeles. I can only paraphrase, but Doug basically took the stage and yelled, ”Stop whining about the sound system.  We know it sucks; it’s being run by the bartender who has no idea what he is doing.  We’re trying to fix it, but you could hear better if you shut up and listened instead of bitching about it.  If you want to show your displeasure, do it like Americans always do, tip your waitress slightly less than 15%.” 

So America, shut up and listen every once in a while.  You might learn something.

Jay Pounders