NOV 01 - 15, 2004

VOL. 2 ISSUE 21

NOVEMBER 7, 2004 – This past week, there has been a dynamic of true surprise and confusion playing out among Bush supporters.  It seems they are as tired of the hatred and division as those on the other side of things are.  And so when they saw the election results, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Honestly.  I have heard one thing and thing only from Bush supporters this past week:  the expression of hope that since Bush got a "clear majority" this time, that the other side will let up, accept the verdict as the legitimate choice of the nation, and that from here on out we could all just get along and accept the situation.

As they have seen that this is not the case - that Kerry supporters do not accept the situation or election results, and have not decided to just go along with what the elected government chooses to do - their reactions have been something I have not seen or heard from Bush supporters all along:  true dismay.

It is not the fake, mocking, sarcastic dismay of a Limbaugh skit.  It seems they really are tired of the tit for tat, exhausted from the past four years, and longing to be able to get along with all those friends and family members they have been warring with for the past four years.  The fight was fierce, spirited, but they are quite sick of it and now wish it could just be over.

The good news is that this is a true opportunity for America.  This is a window - which will close if we don't enter through it - for America to come back to being a civil nation again.

The bad news is that it can't happen unless there are certain specific changes.  These are things both sides, and indeed all good Americans, should be able to agree on.  And they are the roadblock, and potential keystone, to restoring civility in America.

So, for those Bush supporters who truly want the fighting to end, and to Kerry supporters who want the same, here are the five things that must be done to make that happen.  If we join together to make these things happen, then the vicious fighting will end and we can truly be one nation, not Red and Blue but Red, White, and Blue.

1)  ALL E-VOTING MUST HAVE A VERIFIABLE PAPER BACKUP

It doesn't matter whether you believe this election was fixed or not; it is that it could have been fixed. As long as e-voting exists without a paper trail for verification, our election results cannot be trusted, and no good American should accept that.  Those who truly want unity on both sides must come together and make this happen before the next election.  You cannot expect election results to hold any weight in terms of legitimacy until this is corrected.

2)  URBAN VOTERS CANNOT BE MADE TO STAND IN THE RAIN FOR 5 HOURS TO VOTE WHILE RURAL AND SUBURBAN VOTERS HAVE SHORT WAITS

Again, all good Americans agree that for democracy to really be democracy, everyone must have a fair chance to vote on the same technology and without unfair hardship on one group over another.  We can have urban voters vote in neighbor's apartments, just like they do in the burbs.  There should be the same number of polling places per person in a city as in a suburb.  So if you only have one for every five thousand in the city, and so it takes five hours to vote, there should only be one for every five thousand in the suburbs, and so they can have to drive and wait five hours.  Either way, they must be the same to be fair and equal.  Whatever it takes, if you truly want election results to be accepted, the fighting to stop, and if you truly care about America and democracy, we must unite to put an end to this nonsense once and for all.

3)  PROPAGANDA STATIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND UN-AMERICAN.

You cannot watch a lying propaganda station like Fox or listen to lying propagandists like Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, or any of the others who lie, bully, misrepresent and talk over the other side and expect the other side to be okay with you.  If you get indignant when CBS blows one story but embrace 24 hours-a-day of lying and bullying propaganda for your side, you are not looking for the fighting to end, you are not looking for unity, and you are not acting as good Americans.  If you truly want unity, join with us in condemning and abandoning Fox, Limbaugh, and Coulter.  Do this, and we all should, as well, call out when CBS, Michael Moore, and others step over the line as well.  All Americans know dishonest propaganda was the Soviet way, it was Saddam's way - it is not our way.  Fox and Limbaugh and Coulter exist solely to lie and push one side's agenda.  Join with us in condemning their un-American activities and we can move toward getting along and moving past the hatred and fighting.

4)  BOTH SIDES, STOP WITH THE BS NAME CALLING WHEN SOMEONE DISAGREES WITH YOU

At The Moderate Independent, we get it from both sides.  Anytime we say something a Bush supporter doesn't like, they call us "lefty" or, more frequently and ridiculously, "ultra-lefty-liberal" or some other stupid phrase without regard for the fact that "left" and "liberal" actually mean something, stand for positions, like socialism and unilateral nuclear disarmament, which we don't espouse.  This is a divisive gave Fox, Limbaugh, and Rove have used to play us against eachother.

Kerry supporters do the same.  This week we were dubbed racist by one of them for saying it is okay to accept that some people value beauty more than money or schooling.  This is the exact same type of hateful smear, calling someone names that don't fit rather than dealing with the simple fact you disagree with that person.

You cannot attack people with name calling and expect them to accept it.  That is not to desire unity but to desire that someone give into your bullying, and no decent adult would or every should do that.

So, Bush supporters who truly want the division to end, stop using "lefty" and "liberal."  Never use those phrases ever again - you almost never use them accurately, and they are the key tool they use to keep you fighting with and divided from the other side.  And get over phrases like, "liberals are arrogant, think they know it all."  Limbaugh and Hannity and the Fox anchors are the most arrogant know-it-alls on the face of the planet, and they are just, again, trying to get you to hate the other side to keep us fighting each other.

Kerry supporters, save racist and sexist, etc. for the few rare occasions when they actually apply.

Lastly...

5)  STOP SUPPORTING YOUR CANDIDATE WHEN HE LIES

Regardless of your views on policies, there is no question that President Bush lies a lot.  This is one of the main things that has the other side infuriated.  Up until now, you have enjoyed the pleasure of lying and getting away with it.  If you truly want to end the hate and the fighting, as you seem to and say you do, call your own guys and gals out when they launch BS barrages.

Consider the above an offered Contract For A Truce In America.

Agree to - and act upon - these five things that all good Americans should agree upon, and then the other side will see your desire is actually for unity and an end to the hatred and American vs. American fighting.

If you won't act upon these five things, then you don't really desire unity, but simply for the other side to submit to your bullying, which will never happen.  And so a civil America will not exist anytime soon.

Take the Contract or leave it, at least now you cannot claim you do not understand why Kerry supporters have not - and will not - accept the results of the recent election as legitimate and resign themselves to end their fight against President Bush and his supporters.