Discussing Issues

"As you can see, our discourse, our 'family discussions', are acrimonious at best. What will be resolved in future elections? Not a thing. More warfare. More hatred. Is there any hope?"

This month the Minnesota State Fair starts. Covid-19 is not the threat it once was, and political season has started (for the 2024 election). In the days of old, the state fair was an interesting place to discuss issues, even when you did not agree. Today, however, the term "loyal opposition" has been replaced with "enemy". We no longer talk to each other. We talk over each other. Or yell at each other. Or call each other names.

Welcome to 2023 and the discourse we have with each other. You say up, I will say down. You say black, I will say white. Even the sky color is up for debate. You say blue, I will say aqua. And all that is before we discuss anything political. So, what is my point in bringing all of this up? Who will win the next election? Nobody. Now let me explain.

In the election of 2022, the Democrats won about everything. Everything except one very especially important. Consensus. The Republicans (yes, they still exist in Minnesota), HATE everything the Democrats passed, and Tim Walz voted into law. Rather than shaking hands after the election and wishing each other well, the Democrats took to St. Paul with a sledgehammer and destroyed what few things left the Republicans held sacred.

As 2024 approaches, the Democrats have a common smugness surrounding them, and the Republicans are bitter. What was resolved? Nothing. It was like trench warfare, where to the victor go the spoils, and to hell with the side who lost the battle.

What will be the result of the 2024 election? If it is more of the same which was the outcome of the 2022 election, the bitterness of the Republicans will be palpable. Many will continue to leave the state and take their money with them. Minnesota will be considered a lost cause by the "makers", and the Democrats can continue to pander to the "takers". Soon, as Lady Thatcher would say, "The problem with socialism is soon you run out of other people's money." And that is exactly what will happen to Minnesota should the Democrats remain in power.

However, if the Republicans win in 2024, hope will spring eternal. The Democrats will feel betrayed. Their "Great Reset", which they visited on Minnesota, was not appreciated. Even some of the churches turned against the Democrats for the evil they brought to this land. Democrats will vow revenge, and all eyes will be on the 2026 election when they can right this most egregious wrong. 

As you can see, our discourse, our "family discussions", are acrimonious at best. What will be resolved in future elections? Not a thing. More warfare. More hatred. Is there any hope?

Only God can fix this. But first, Republicans and mostly the Democrats need to again find God. And our churches really need to once again become the church. It is then we will have some hope for a better discourse, and then a better state.