OPINION: Thoughts on our collective voting behavior

“…it undermines the foundations of our community, if not our entire country”

By Thor Schuson, Wellsville, Allegany County

I've been wondering lately what message we're sending to young people about the election. I didn't care much about politics as a child, but I was certainly aware of what the adults around me thought about Bill Clinton.

One thing that struck me was that elections were a serious, almost sacred event. It was important to know where a candidate stood on the issues, and it was equally important to know when those candidates were lying or pandering to their supporters. You could joke about the candidates, but in front of the children it was classy.

The election that really made me sit up and take notice was the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. As a teenager, I actually understood what was being discussed at the time and the role the president played in our government. In the 2004 election, Bush versus Kerry, some of my friends who were a year older than me were allowed to vote for the first time.

This was undoubtedly a heated election. Our “war on terror” was still in full swing, and both sides of the political spectrum had a lot to say, not only against their opponent, but about their candidate. Positions on issues and proposed policies were passionately debated, but these conversations did not extend to all aspects of everyday life.

The first election I was able to participate in was between Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008. I remember watching the debates with excitement and pride. Obama was and is a great speaker, regardless of what you think of him personally, and McCain also spoke with knowledge and conviction. There was mutual respect between the two, and both candidates smiled as they shook hands.

The debates between Obama and Mitt Romney in the 2012 election were also educational and respectful, though perhaps not quite as much. Still, it was nice to watch the debates (plural, there have been several debates between candidates for as long as I can remember) and learn what each candidate wanted to do for our country. The debate between vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan had a different tone, it seemed like the vice presidents could be their candidates' attack dogs, laughing and rolling their eyes at each other's remarks. At the time, it was amusing to see the vice presidents show disrespect, it was a “funny” contrast to the seriousness of Obama and Romney.

We all know how the 2016 and 2020 elections turned out, at least most of us do. And that brings me to the point I was trying to make: American elections have become ridiculous.

I'm not going to discuss my thoughts and feelings about our candidates this election cycle, although of course I have strong opinions like many others do. No, I want to talk about how we approach elections and debates now and, more importantly, how we treat each other.

We are not a densely populated district and are not taken into consideration by the “movers and shakers” of the state and federal governments. Let's not kid ourselves, none of the candidates knows or cares about our green hills and valleys.

The problem seems to me to come down to two factors: America's love of teams and America's love of reality TV. We're not only obsessed with cheering for our team, but actively booing and insulting the opposing team. Our media is flooded with game shows, dating shows, and people competing in all sorts of outlandish competitions to win money (and internet fame).

Somehow these two American pastimes have found their way into our politics. It's no longer politics versus politics, but insult versus insult. The amount of slander and name-calling is ridiculous. Where are the adults?

It seems that people no longer support a candidate for his ideas, but for the sensationalism. It's about the drama, the next must-see clip, the reaction to the reactions, the 'zings' and the 'burns' and the 'take thats'. And I ask again: where are the adults?

I see people cheering when these politicians “attack” each other. The insults, lies, and problematic rhetoric that is used and celebrated is alarming to say the least. To say that these remarks are celebrated is an understatement. The amount of money being made from hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and the like must be astonishing.

I can hardly remember another election in which people made their politics their personality, at least not to the extent we are experiencing now. And that is undermining the foundations of our community, if not our country as a whole. Our tendency to root for a team, combined with the addictiveness of 24-hour entertainment channels masquerading as news, has led many to resort to schoolyard arguments like, “I know you are, but what am I?” We insult anyone who has a different opinion, we laugh and actively wish misfortune on the “other team.” We proudly display profanity, flaunt criminal behavior, lament that “the shooter missed,” and make sexualized jokes—all in front of the next generation of voters.

Is that really the example we want to set? That it's OK to mock and threaten anyone who has a different opinion? More than OK, that it's American, even patriotic, to loudly hate anyone who is different? That debating viewpoints with passion and facts is no longer an option these days? If you say it loud enough, it must be true? That making jokes about small… crowds… that's OK, because in this election, you can't go high when you go low?

No matter what November brings, we'll all still be neighbors, we'll still live in this county. It's time for all of us (red, blue, yellow, green, the whole political party variety) to remember… we were raised better than this. Our parents and grandparents, our teachers, pastors, coaches, Sunday school teachers, PBS, they all raised us better.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. Share your toys. If you bring snacks, make sure you bring enough for everyone. Don't push others out of line. Keep your hands to yourself. Don't tell lies. Don't cheat or copy from others. Say please, thank you, you're welcome. Help the kids who are younger than you. Pass the ball. Whether you win or lose, you give the other team a high-five. Take time to think and pray before making big decisions. Be true to your word. Love your neighbor.

Let's try to overcome the “us versus them” mentality, we are all in this together. We are all human and we try every day to be better than yesterday and live happy and healthy lives with our loved ones. Let's remember who “the other side” really is, our neighbors. Here in Allegany County, there are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Christians, Atheists, immigrants, gays and transgenders. Let's care for each other, let's help each other stand up. Instead of reading that the local Democrats did a food drive and getting angry, we should be asking ourselves how we can help too. When families affected by the recent floods receive help and donations from the community, instead of making derogatory remarks about what political flags they are flying, we should be asking ourselves again, “What can I do to help?”

Just something to maybe keep in mind as we move into November, because it's only going to get worse from here on out. Remember who your neighbors are and remember to be nice to each other.