A License to Chill

By Joe Rector

I dipped my toes into the warm water of the Atlantic, bowed my head to offer a prayer for Jimmy Buffett, and listened to his music as I walked and splashed in the breaking waves. I admit that my eyes were close to filling with tears. However, that’s not how Jimmy would have liked anyone to spend time at such a wonderful place like the beach. My mind also chooses to believe that the leader of the Parrotheads was more than tired of the squabbling that has infected this country.

Many Americans are simply tired of the battles between political parties. I’m not saying either side is right or wrong. Like others, my tolerance for partisan politics is at its end. On one end of the spectrum, we have congressmen and congresswomen who are carping about all sorts of social ills. They demand that the money spent for defense be moved to pay for such things as student debt, freely allowing immigrants to cross the border and settle in the U.S., and civil rights for all peoples and genders. On the other end, politicians are busy developing a national abortion ban, cutting spending for Ukraine, and tax cuts. Yes, many more things can be added to the agendas of both groups, but these are enough to develop the point.

What happened to us? I’ve been around since the 1950s, and the only time in our history that comes close is during the Watergate Hearings and Nixon’s resignation.

The United States was never more united than when the Twin Towers were destroyed. President Bush threw out the first pitch before a Yankee-Red Sox game. Every fan in the Boston stadium stood to cheer for him and the country.

The assassination of John Kennedy brought us together as well. Children and adults all mourned the murder of the country’s leader, and people of all groups and races stood shoulder to shoulder to say goodbye as Kennedy’s casket passed.

Americans have put differences aside during disasters. Nobody asked an individual’s political affiliation before pitching in to clean up or rebuild a house. No firefighter refused to battle wildfires in California with another of a different color.

For the most part, this country has always felt sure that when push came to shove citizens would set aside squabbles and differences and join forces to work on making America safer and stronger. This country was more important than any personal ambitions or adversarial group. These days, members of the same political party fight each other. Nothing much is accomplished because parties are determined not to allow the “other side” to succeed in helping the American people.

Books are filled with stories of how bitter political opponents waged war all day in the halls of the Capital and then shared dinner, conversation, and laughter in the evening. Today, an elected person’s talking to a member of an opposing party is enough reason to be ostracized by his party. The plans for both sides seem to be to deny any success on bills passed or plans developed.

The majority of Americans are “sick and tired” of the situation. Most folks live in the middle; that means they aren’t extremists on either side. The folks who are on the outer fringes don’t decide many elections. Their failure to use common sense and “give and take” only hurts the entire country. Only in political organizations can one man hold up the promotions and leadership of our armed services. No one should ever have the ability to freeze such important things; the narrow-minded act shows his love of self over country. The time has come for our leaders to work together for the good of the country. If they continue to play “gotcha” with the other side, the voters must vote them out. Jimmy Buffett would have advised these chronic troublemakers to “get a license to chill.”