?United? States? : a rant

(Note: this is somewhat in response to a thread on facebook dealing with people referring to healthcare reform as "That nazi policy" and likening Obama to Hitler)

I do think that the US is a great country. One of our defining traits has been the ability to have liberty and diversity at the same time. Our worst moments as a country have been when we have been bitterly divided against each other to the point of no longer seeing what unites us (eg The Civil War). Our best moments have been when we acknowledge that while we may not agree, we are all in this together (eg 9/11). I am not so idealistic as to think that even in our most united moments absolutely everyone agrees about any given idea, policy, or endeavor. But it has been our ability to disagree but still work together that has put us ahead of any other country as a beacon of democracy. My current frustration has been the deepening and ongoing polarization of America. What started as red states vs. blue states has evolved to a point where there seems to be very little middle ground. Whether it is supreme court justice nominees, or plans to improve sectors of our society that really need it, or an effort to shore up an ailing economy- everything is presented in bulleted talking points and gross dichotomies. The population at large seems too lazy to think for themselves and so they let pundits and talking heads form their opinions. The media seems to use this tension to fuel its 24 hour news cycle. After all, it draws more viewers to show a town-hall brawl than to show people working side by side to accomplish something. Why we have allowed it to become about viewership and not about unbiased information is a whole ‘nother rant.
One of my greatest hopes with Obama as president was for some relief from that polarization, and frankly I have been disappointed- especially by the lack of effort put forth by both Democrats and Republicans to work across party lines. It seems like Democrats are playing a game of “tit for tat” payback after 8 years of Republican rule, and Republicans are playing at nursing their “I’m going to take my ball and go home” sore loser status. I want to say to all of them (and us) GROW UP! Put aside the petty partisan politics, and I might add the harmful vituperative rhetoric both sides are using, and GET TO WORK! Nothing is being accomplished and we are squandering both a glorious history and a shining future to stroke our egos. I am aware that I am asking that we stop doing politics as usual- and that may be asking too much. But it sure doesn’t seem like our current method is working.
As far as the Hitler analogies go- you can make those analogies with lots of leaders throughout history- some good and some bad. Most politicians gain favor, get elected or appointed and then use their power for good or ill. To equate anyone with Hitler or the Nazis is to say they are the worst of all people with an agenda of absolute evil. So, while I agree Obama has come into power riding a wave of popularity and has now set out to advance an agenda of egalitarianism- I don’t find the comparison to be equivocal and by using Hitler as the standard, you unnecessarily incite fear-mongering. It tends to shut down the conversation because it elicits so many strong emotions. And as I said earlier- I believe our greatest strength lies in talking, listening and working with each other despite our disagreements, rather than simply dividing into opposing sides and hurling insults at each other. And I remain thankful because we have the privilege to live in a place where we have the liberty to disagree frankly and openly while we still share a common foundation of freedom for all.