You know, overall, I guess the frustration I experience over the issues at hand here is that we're seemingly no longer smart enough, no longer respectful enough, no longer humble enough, to live together as Americans despite, dare I say even because of our differences. We've too quickly forgotten who we are as a people.
It's almost like a macrocosm of what is termed a "cycle of disaffection" within a marriage/relationship, but on a grand scale. Small issues go undealt with improperly, and so starts the cycle of disaffection, where each time the cycle repeats, each mate takes one step away from each other. It doesn't take very many cycles before divorce occurs because a small issue turned into emotional blackmail and stonewalling (very similar behavior to what is ongoing in politics today I might add). We couldn't simply agree to disagree over what was once a small issue, because we both feel so strongly about it, we've forgotten how to fight fairly, each side needs the other side to endorse their worldview, and if you won't, then I'll try my best to get my view written into law. The desire to be right has overcome our desire to be humble and live together in harmony as Americans, no matter how strongly our belief systems are.
I believe that our rampant divorce rates are but one example of why we cannot seem to simply leave the power of choice over issues in the hands of individuals or at the very most, the states within the union. No, we've become so prideful, all of us (regretably even I sometimes fall into this trap), that we have to prove who's right and who's wrong, almost at any cost. In the end, we're all going to be wrong, and we're all going to pay for it if we don't wake up and smell the roses, if we don't return to being Americans instead of having to be right over whatever issue is on the table.
I have a great confidence in our Constitution and in the balance of the three branches of gov't and the states ability to check those powers if necessary, especially constitutionally via the 75% amendment ratification process. So long as we do not fundamentally alter our constitutional republic/democracy, I think we'll come out on top.
