Genuinely asking both parties: where do you want friends/family relationships to go from here?

[Anonymous]

If you are a Trump supporter and don’t want to hear “liberal whining or self-righteousness,” or if you are a Harris supporter and you are genuinely baffled how someone could vote for a known misogynist and racist, where do you want to go from here?

In an ideal world, do you want divisions, relationships (friends, family, neighbors, coworkers), and hurts to heal? If so, what does that look like, and what role might you play in that?

If you would rather just write off the “other side,” what do you think our country will look and feel like if everyone wants that?

[Anonymous]

I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

[Anonymous]

I don't want to normalize Trump and just say that fine voting for him is "okay."

But understand your broader harder Q of "then what"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
Its a question of morals, not political differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
Its a question of morals, not political differences.

So you see two Americas. You see permanent division? Is that what you want, and what you will work for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you would rather just write off the “other side,” what do you think our country will look and feel like if everyone wants that?

This is an important question, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
It’s a question of morals, not political differences.

OK, so…then what? You want the majority of the country to be “immoral and unreachable,” and you want your party to keep losing again and again, because without any connection or healing of division or understanding, this is going to be it going forward? What do you want? Where do you want to go from here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
Its a question of morals, not political differences.

So you see two Americas. You see permanent division? Is that what you want, and what you will work for?

And torched family/friend/neighbor ties. Harder to create new ones with age. The maxim to refrain from discussing politics or religion at work or at family events was a good one. It predated social media and identity politics intensifying during COVID isolation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
It’s a question of morals, not political differences.

OK, so…then what? You want the majority of the country to be “immoral and unreachable,” and you want your party to keep losing again and again, because without any connection or healing of division or understanding, this is going to be it going forward? What do you want? Where do you want to go from here?

I’m tired of being in the only party that keeps looking for connection and healing. At least for now, I’m writing people off.

[Anonymous]

I want everyone to stop worshipping any and all politicians and thinking they’re actually going to solve anything for anyone. I just want to talk about the weather, what’s for dinner, funny shows on TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
It’s a question of morals, not political differences.

OK, so…then what? You want the majority of the country to be “immoral and unreachable,” and you want your party to keep losing again and again, because without any connection or healing of division or understanding, this is going to be it going forward? What do you want? Where do you want to go from here?

I’m tired of being in the only party that keeps looking for connection and healing. At least for now, I’m writing people off.

This. While I can kind of understand people voting on economics, I still see all the hateful rhetoric coming from the other side still, and that is about my friends and neighbors, whom I feel responsible to protect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have written off the other side. Truly I want nothing to do with these morons who vote against their own interest and those of others

Yup.
It’s a question of morals, not political differences.

OK, so…then what? You want the majority of the country to be “immoral and unreachable,” and you want your party to keep losing again and again, because without any connection or healing of division or understanding, this is going to be it going forward? What do you want? Where do you want to go from here?

I’m tired of being in the only party that keeps looking for connection and healing. At least for now, I’m writing people off.

OP here. When I think about my family members who voted for Trump, I don’t think they want disconnect. They’ve never stopped talking to me or inviting me or wanting good things for me and my family. I think they are hurt that “people think I’m racist because I voted for Trump” but they can’t make the connection because, to them, racism means white hoods and burning crosses, and nothing else. Sexism means you, personally, wouldn’t hire a woman or have made a woman uncomfortable at work.

So I would say the Trump voters I know want more unity and for the tension to lessen, but they think that means liberals should “get over” Trump, and they genuinely don’t see why that is problematic. They think it’s “the same” as if Trump were John McCain or Mitt Romney or someone else who ran for president as Republican in recent memories. They truly don’t get why This is Different.

So given how everyone thinks and feels and views “the other side,” what is the actual best and most productive way forward? Do you honestly think “writing people off” is going to get Democrats power back in two or four years? How? How would that possibly work?

[Anonymous]

I’ll be generally civil but my focus will be on preparing and protecting my own family and helping others who will be harmed by the new regime.

Yes, there is a divide that isn’t going away. You’re either ok with openly espousing and displaying Nazi beliefs, saying “your body OUR choice,” etc. or you find that repugnant. There is no middle ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll be generally civil but my focus will be on preparing and protecting my own family and helping others who will be harmed by the new regime.

Yes, there is a divide that isn’t going away. You’re either ok with openly espousing and displaying Nazi beliefs, saying “your body OUR choice,” etc. or you find that repugnant. There is no middle ground.

So again, you want two countries?

After the Civil War, there was two Americas. If there had been “no middle ground,” the United States would have never moved forward enough to be able to pass laws for women to vote, for Black women to vote, for people of color to have full voting rights, for Civil Rights laws to pass, for interracial marriage, for women to open their own bank accounts, for gay couples to marry, etc.

So if we stay as “no middle ground,” how could things possibly get better than they are now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want everyone to stop worshipping any and all politicians and thinking they’re actually going to solve anything for anyone. I just want to talk about the weather, what’s for dinner, funny shows on TV.

+100000