There goes the neighborhood

In the two days since the mid-term elections, Republicans have been inundated with “there goes the neighborhood” messages, but much less civilly expressed.  I’ve had to endure them from friends on FaceBook, e-mail, forums, blogs and in person. Most center around statements that we’re returning to the dark ages and that back alley abortions are just around the corner. Two posts suggested that it’s not Wisconsin but Governor elect Scott Walkers wife who should be open for business. Others stated that the lunatics are taking over the asylum, America is done for, that the homophobic, racist, extremist, ignorant, redneck, religious nuts have seized control … you get the gist.

How did we come to this? How have we gotten to the point where personal attack and vitriolic generalizations have replaced reasoned discourse?

Let me say before I go any further that Republicans are just as guilty as Democrats. I have no illusions that only liberals are capable of being mean spirited.  I also don’t give a damn who started it, the fact that it’s happening is where my concern lies.

Respectful debate is out there. It just doesn’t get press coverage. Democrats protesting at the Republican convention and Republicans hanging Obama effigies at Tea Party rallies are much more dramatic than two groups sitting down to hash out a compromise. The sad thing is that if bad behavior is all you see or hear about, it’s human nature to think that that is the way a person should act.

The first thing that happened after the election was each side declaring that if gridlock happened the other side will be to blame. I propose a shift in attitude. Let’s try declaring that if compromise is reached, it’s our side that will be responsible. That declaration automatically assumes consensus instead of contention. What’s to lose?