Wait… what??, you say? Yes, Republicans and Democrats, Progressive and Conservative, Green and Libertarian are not the issue. These are ways of thinking, ways of solving problems, all with some good ideas, all with some bad ideas. Ideas are never the problem.

Greedy, power hungry people are the problem.

Violent, destructive people are the problem.

Disturbed, delusional people are the problem.

Blind followers are the problem.

Tuned out people are the problem.

This is an important distinction as the media likes to sell papers or boost ratings by creating easy divisions to tell stories that keep people angry and tuning in. Politicians who want to force control will use dividing the political parties as ways of keeping their base behind them. They all spend a great deal of time with pundits and surrogates to keep the fires burning.

Don’t fall for it. Stereotypes are ways of separating. Thinking you already know all whiny, cry-baby libtards or cold-hearted, racists republicans is a lazy way of living on the planet. I know it’s scary to step out of our comfortable ways of dismissing large groups of people, but if we want to survive this latest crisis in America, that is what is required.

Listen carefully for the folks that say they want to start taking out immigrants, start shooting them dead. Listen carefully for the folks that say one thing and do another. Watch out for people who have shut out anything but what their guy says. Focus on the threats to Americans through the disturbed, frantic need to have control. These are not political party issues, these are social issues, legal issues and police issues.

Start talking with your friends and family about separating the political person from the disturbed person. Talk about how society needs to come together – all political, social, economic, racial, everyone – to find solutions for the social ills of our country.

Stick with journalism, the reporting of news based on facts without opinion or assigning emotions. It’s less entertaining but news is not entertainment. Even your local news is yelling and excited and sensationalizing to get you to tune in. Don’t be so easily manipulated.

Then we can actually get somewhere. I have faith in you. Reach out to one of the tuned-out folks. They are overwhelmed and scared, needing your support. I know you are open-minded, willing to listen to the other side, challenge your own thinking so reach out to someone different from you to see who they really are. Do it today.