The Liberal Patriot

Is Thinking for Yourself Not Allowed in American Politics?

Mary MacElveen - April 3, 2005

I think I have come to finally understand why most politicians base their decisions on what the polls say instead of thinking for themselves. Going with the polls does not lead to one running for their Tylenol bottle. One can sit very easily back and say, “Well the polls told me to vote that way” But, leading with one’s own convictions based upon life experience seems to be the tougher road to go in our modern day political system. Heaven forbid a politician receives a stack of angry letters, tons of emails, faxes and calls screaming at them instead of making a case why they decided to take a certain position. It is then they find that the Tylenol is not working as well as when they first started to take it. Perhaps Advil works better. If a special interest group puts pressure on them to vote counter to the way their gut tells them to go—Is Aleve better than Advil? It sure must be tough to be a politician today and thankfully I am not one.

To make my contribution to this process, I started out years ago as a writer thinking that it would be a lot easier than being a politician. At first it was, because I was writing based upon what my party believed and yes those awful polls. Yes, I am a Democrat and do believe in many of my party’s issues, but some I just do not and that is when the writing got harder. Just like the politicians, I too began to get those nasty emails. But, hey, I do not have to raise tons of cash to run for another term and that is my blessing. Also as a writer, shouldn’t I be objective in order to be honest with myself and my readers?

I often wonder if those within my own party or the Republican Party even look into a bill or issue so that they can make up their own mind instead of just being for it based upon their party affiliation. If you are a Democrat and feel uneasy about abortion and are not for it or if you are a Republican and are anti gun then it is your right as an American first to be independent and free within your thinking process. The party you belong to should never decide how you feel concerning an issue. Think for yourself.

When I registered as a Democrat, I do not remember anywhere on the voter registration sheet or being sent any letter from the party itself saying –“You must be anti gun!” Having just written an article basically blasting two Democrats for using false information within their assault weapons bills as well as scare tactics, I got those nasty emails again. One person even called me the “Mouth piece for the NRA”. No, it is not that, I just do not want my guns taken away under false premises. Well through my incessant writing and being true to my convictions, those bills will not be coming up for a vote. Who came to my aid? It was two Republican legislators. Okay, do not worry; I am not going back to becoming Republican since I do not agree with many of their issues as well. But, I wanted to know—where were my fellow Democrats in helping someone from their own party? I am still expecting my letter back and my mail box is empty.

Then I took a very hard stance based upon my own life experience in the recent Terri Schiavo case and sided with her husband Michael. I seem to remember where God said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” But, as a writer I needed to speak out independently and also as a human being come to his aid with compassion. Well, my email box overflowed with reactions to my support of Michael. One person called me a murderer and last night, someone called me a Nazi. I cannot even fathom what he is going through, his family members or his attorney. Here I was just a lone writer speaking out on his behalf and I wondered if there was anything stronger than Aleve.

So, with the passing of Pope John Paul II, I thought I was safe in writing a column praising him for his contributions to our Earth and where he did not side with Pres. George W. Bush when it came to the Iraq War and heralded his spirituality. I then saw I had an email waiting in response to that article and someone railed against me for even writing that and said that “The Pope knew nothing of God” Now I need both the Aleve and Pepto Bismol.

As I monitor what is being posted on my Yahoo groups, the common theme is for people just to post articles that everyone else is posting without using their own brains. While I have posted articles as well coming from other writers, I try making suggestions to those on these lists to do something with that information contained within the article and wonder if they do. I even put the contact information on all my letters should they wish to do so. Or are they on the hunt for the next article to post? But, I get the biggest chuckle when I see the me too replies.

It leaves me thinking just where is the independent thinking in today’s American politics? Is it still out there? Or if a person signs up to a party—will they automatically just follow instead of daring to be a leader? Will they march to their own beat and this goes equally and more importantly to our politicians. While I will remain a Democrat, I have found that my new road to take is to speak out wherever I think my voice and my words can do the best. Also as a writer by being objective and more independent in my thinking process, it loans itself to credibility. Credibility is like honor and one must live with honor or what purpose do they serve?

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