We are a very divided country. Everyone has their own opinions. I won't change yours and you won't change mine. That's why there is no compromise from our leaders. Because we Americans aren't willing to compromise anymore.
It's time to start listening to what's being said and not just what we hear. We do this on too many topics. Our system is broken because facts don't form opinions anymore. In the wake of the Pulse shootings in Orlando, it's time to look at things from clear eyes. I'll start with gun reform but that's not the only area I'm talking about.
We need gun reform. The states with the loosest gun laws are the ones with high shooting rates. I'm not posting the links to those charts again. I usually do, but the people who should read them never actually read them.
No, good civilians with guns aren't stopping the bad guys. In fact, they are more likely to get shot by shooting back then by running and ducking for cover. They are also more likely to accidentally shoot an innocent bystander. This isn't a crime drama. Civilians are not trained law enforcement. The "defend myself" situation is very different when it happens in real life then NRA imagination.
What gun rights people hear "they want to take away your guns"
What is actually being said "we want to keep guns away from those who are high risk to cause harm"
It's not just about guns. We have a lot of topics like that. Gay rights, transgender rights, equal pay, healthcare, abortions, birth control, government assistance and minimum wage. It's one thing to have an opinion on something. It's another to force your views on others.
Gay rights:
What homophobics hear "they choose to live like that and don't deserve to be treated the same as you"
What is actually being said "it's not a choice, it's part of who they are. They are still law abiding citizens that pay taxes like you and deserve the same rights and privileges as you"
Transgender rights:
What Transphobics hear "you are born the gender you are born, look down and that's it"
What is actually being said "it's not that simple. Being a drag queen is very different then being Transgender. A drag queen likes to dress up like a woman sometimes but still feels like they are a man. A Transgender person identifies as the opposite gender. It's not about what's in the pants. It's about what gender makes you feel whole"
Equal Pay:
What men hear "they are making the same as men what are they complaining about?"
What is actually being said "I know men in this company in the same job making more then me. Having kids held me back in my career. Why does that still happen?"
Healthcare:
What the heartless people hear "you are paying for other people to get healthcare"
What is actually being said "ALL medical related expenses are out of control high. In the meantime, people are making less money. People are dying of curable diseases. We need to do something to make healthcare affordable for EVERYONE!!! We'd like to do better but this is the best we can do thanks to hearlless selfish people.
Note: yes, I got judgy there. Because when Josh was unemployed and broke his hip our Affordable Care exchange plan covered a huge percentage of it. It was made affordable by a nice tax subsidy. Between $23,000 and $25,000 for everything related to his surgery, rehab and recovery before insurance paid their part. What exactly do you think would have happened if this insurance wasn't an option for us? I get not being comfortable with universal health care. But, being against the Affordable Care Act makes you either ignorant of it, or heartless and selfish. I did a blog post years ago clarifying it if you don't understand it.
Abortions:
What pro-lifer's hear "don't have sex if you don't want to get pregnant"
What is really being said "It's not that simple. Rape victims didn't choose to have sex. Women should not be forced to carry a baby that won't survive outside the womb. If the mother's life is in danger, there would still be a loss of life. In fact, there is no guarantee that the baby would survive if you let the mother die. It really boils down to one things. A woman's uterus should not be more regulated then guns!!!!!"
Birth Control:
What the religious right hears "Birth control is a type of abortion"
What is actually being said "So, you failed that part of sex-ed. Okay, here's the cliff notes. Birth control prevents the egg from being fertilized by the sperm. It prevents the creation of life, it doesn't end a life that has already been created. "
Government Assistance:
What the Peniaphobic hear "they are too lazy to work"
What is actually being said "Almost all of us have jobs, are looking for jobs, or physically can't work. Of those of us then can physically work, our circumstances are out of our hands. Jobs need to be created and employers need to pay a living wage. A lot of employers purposely pay their employees poverty wages so the government can supplement their income. This is called 'Corporate Welfare'. Hold these companies accountable for paying their employees a living wage. If you believe that trickle down economics is the best way, you know nothing about economics!!! Because trickle down economics is the reason I need government assistance in the first place!!!!!"
Minimum Wage:
What the opponents hear "it will raise prices and cause layoffs"
What is really being said "when people make more money, they have more to spend. In time, this leads to more business and a stronger economy. It's what basically every economist has frustratingly been saying for years. "
I doubt this will change anything. The other day someone quoted a specific statistic to me. Now, there is zero chance this statistic was correct. When we read articles that mention statistics there is always more then one statistic in that article. You might remember the number, but the likelihood that you are getting what it's for right is very small. The same is true in reverse. You might know what a statistic was for, but the likelihood you got the number right is also very small.
When I post a statistic, I include the link to where I got it from. But, I don't quote statistics unless reading from a reliable source (no, FOX news doesn't count and neither does Wikipedia). You loose credibility with me if you quote a statistic in conversation without physically showing me your source. Too many opinions are not formed on facts anymore. Fix the broken system. Start hearing what is really being said!
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