I am an American first.

I am an American first, and a Democrat, second. I’m also a Liberal. I’m not sure which of those words the opposition would call dirty, but I’m pretty sure Democrat, and Liberal would be in the top two.

However, American values mean more to me than partisan pissing contests and I’m wondering why that debate isn’t the one we see now.

I cringe when I watch the president on TV or Twitter, and at the same time I tune in so that I can hear it; see it. Our president is the rubberneckers’ dream. He is the highway traffic accident that we all stare at as we pass; wondering if anyone died; how it happened; whose fault it was. Riding along in our lane, we can’t do anything about it. We move on with our lives and wait for the next accident.

No more can we do that. America will cease to exist if we continue rubbernecking and moving along. We need to get involved. If you’re a Democrat or a Republican, look at the big picture. Twenty years down the road, what do you see? Is it a brown, dry country with superstorms? Have we pushed women and other minorities back into the cellar? Does another country rightly claim superpower status? Are we verging on civil war again? What about our society’s classes? Is there still a middle class or are we only rich and poor? Is a chronic disease a path to death or bankruptcy? Do we punish women for sexual assault and unplanned pregnancies, or do men have some of the blame? And, frighteningly, do we have any allies around the world? You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. Same for a country. Are we allied with the countries who jail their people; suppress dissent; attack their neighbors?

Sadly, I see this America coming. Because in 20 years I also see voter apathy. Or, perhaps there are no elections because the voters gave up. Maybe our leaders decided to appoint a president. And you know it will be the same dangerous rule that we currently have because those in charge are staying in charge.

Time for a reminder of the Golden Rule; Do unto others as you’d have done to you. So, ask yourself how you would feel if you couldn’t afford proper healthcare; if you were one prescription away from dying. Ask yourself how you’d feel if your child was taken away from you because you were trying to give them a better life. Ask yourself if you are willing to allow the planet to die because you want cheaper oil. Ask yourself how you would feel if your family went bankrupt because a bunch of politicians weren’t willing to give up any political ground.

It’s not too late. Two hundred forty-four years ago a group of citizens got together to wrest control of their government from a tyrant. Those best and brightest; those patriots had the hard work to do. Today, we only need to pick up the phone; deluge our senators and congressmen and women with calls and demand action. We need to talk with our neighbors and encourage them to do the same. We need to march. For, if we don’t America will be another terrible traffic accident we drive by and wonder how it happened.

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