David Liu encourages us to engage our Republican brethren to instill in them a degree of sanity and consideration of facts when assessing political candidates, as well as the viability of those in office and their programs. Liu encourages us to be open-minded to those with whom we disagree and to be empathetic to their concerns and problems. We would live in a better America, and probably a better world, if Liu’s proposal was a viable solution to America’s socio-political divide. But it’s not.
How are progressive, fact-oriented, thoughtful people supposed to rationally engage those who encourage and applaud Donald Trump, et al.? An empathetic approach to people in this category equates to expressing compassion for the hate and demonization they publicly express for people unlike themselves in appearance, politics and thought. How do we engage in sensible debate those who disparage or deny scientific fact and recorded, authenticated history?
Adding to Trump’s socio-political morass is a fact known to every salesperson: buyers will justify their purchase despite the fact of the product’s inferiority. So too will those (buyers) who voted for Republican politicians riding the Trump bandwagon. They will support their choices despite ample evidence to indicate that these politicians are creating and implementing programs and legislation that are detrimental to them (the buyer).
Michael K. Broughton
Green Park