The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Opinion

Discussion

November 5, 2012

Your View: The emotion of politics

By Dan Whitworth Special to The Globe

WEBB CITY, Mo. — I have noticed in this most recent political campaign year that it seems people have become more polarized in their positions.

I also have observed frustration when politics are discussed, because it would appear that neither side sees the other’s position. Why is that? I think it’s because we establish emotional ties to a particular political party. The reason we initially vote either Democratic or Republican may be because of a certain candidate or cause, but after it occurs, it seems that we become repetitive, perhaps without thinking about the vote.

I’m a Democrat. I would speculate that most of my friends are Republican. Our friendship transcends political differences and will continue regardless of who goes into the White House or the governor’s mansion.

Without alienating or insulting my friends or strangers, I still want to get a couple of things off my chest.

First, people don’t misspeak about a concept. They may mispronounce the name of a person, a country or a date. However, when you are dealing with a concept such as abortion, you are either saying it because you believe it or saying it because you are attempting to cause other people to believe that this is your position. I am not truly certain why abortion has become such an issue in the election, but it incenses me that a male politician is making grossly incorrect statements about women’s health. Every year women die as a result of complications from pregnancy, and they become pregnant as a result of “legitimate rape.”

Politicians have every right to voice their opinion, but after they do, they need to live by their comments.

I am concerned that politicians are pandering to certain groups of people in an attempt to get votes. Quite honestly, as the father of a daughter, I do not want a politician making a decision about these issues. I think it is a medical and moral issue that is between the individual and God. Politics should not be involved.

Second, I am offended by any politician who swears allegiance to any concept or document other then the Constitution of the United States or the state in which he or she serves. Any other allegiance creates a prejudice and failure to properly analyze the issues before them.

I see a lot of political placards that talk about restoring America’s greatness. I am of the opinion that America is still great. It is the only country that I would want to live in, and I thank God I was born here. I don’t want to return to something — I want to move forward.

Dan Whitworth

Webb City

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