Posted on July 30, 2024
Rep. Mastrofrancesco and Sen Sampson Published the Following Column:
How far has our country strayed from respecting the opinions of others? Have people forgotten the golden rule? Or that we are neighbors with equal rights to our opinions? The recent assassination attempt on former President Trump is being described as a wake-up call for many.
Not for us. Serving in the state legislature for a few years has already given us a clear understanding of just how divided the country has become. When it comes to people who are actively engaged in politics, many have chosen their camp, their news networks, their trusted sources. While most have simply siloed themselves, there are those that cannot wait to engage.
Engagement can and should be a good thing. In fact, if there is a clear and identifiable problem leading to our divided nation, it is a failure to communicate, to understand, or even care to understand where others are coming from, and why they hold the views they do.
It’s the type of engagement that matters. For outspoken conservatives like us, we can’t wait to find new ways to connect. That’s what politics is about. It’s selling your ideas, your worldview, and making the case why our path is the better one.
For others, the outlet has become hate and violence, and it needs to stop.
Both political parties certainly have their platforms and their ideas but in this modern political era, the polarization seems much more focused on people and personalities, icons if you will, than on policy and ideas.
Former President Trump is the textbook example of this. It’s remarkable just how polarizing a figure he has become. Without exaggeration, people either love him or hate him. Even more fascinating for political wonks like us is to contemplate just how much people support and approve of Trump’s policies and results, while simultaneously disliking him for his demeanor.
Some of that is clearly self-inflicted, but how much is really a result of media and news agencies being pumped with millions of dollars designed to shape our views?
The major news networks are engaging in propaganda these days, not news, and American consumers have become content to absorb the “facts” that are offered. Sadly, many of those “facts” go unchecked and unchallenged.
This is, at least in part, how Democrats effectively defeated Trump in 2020. They convinced a significant part of the nation that Trump is a racist, describing white supremacists as “good people” in Charlotte, and that he colluded with the Russians to steal the 2016 election, among a hundred other distortions and mistruths.
So many people, even today, still believe these demonstrably false and divisive lies. We too have been on the receiving end of similar distortions, and even the threats of violence that they sometimes manifest.
No one is perfect but both of us have worked hard to do politics the right way, to be civil, to be clear in our positions, to be unafraid to defend them and debate them, if necessary, to listen, and even to change on occasion.
Most importantly, we are committed to honoring our unique and amazing American system of representation. This means we treat our constituents as our focus and guide, and while we cannot agree with everyone all the time, we always offer civility and respect.
In recent years, it has become difficult to encourage good candidates to run. The best people often say no. Who can blame them? Being a “politician” has become an insult in most circles. The result is more truly bad politicians who do not show respect, or worse, those that believe they were elected to be the boss of others.
Thankfully, former President Trump survived the attempt on his life, but the actions of the gunman took the life of an innocent father who attended the rally simply to support his political candidate. Two other people were seriously injured in the shooting, due to the incomprehensible actions of a 20-year-old with hate in his heart.
It will take time for authorities to uncover the gunman’s motive, details of his online activity, and how he gained access to the event. However, this part is clear. This individual tragically chose to express his ideological differences through violence.
Calls for unity are everywhere, and should be applauded, but they are also naïve. People who disagree so markedly are not going to suddenly join hands. What they can do, however, is debate.
Ironically, arguing policy views and debating ideas is the very thing that would diminish hatred – and the potential for violence.
We have seen it in our own political campaigns. Our opponents often make personal attacks, and we respond politely with facts and policy – and respect. The result has been positive for us both and has granted us the chance to continue to serve.
We want to take this moment to ask our neighbors to help restore a small bit of American culture and consider setting an example for others.
Disagreements have always existed in politics, but recently, the tone of those differences has taken on a meaner edge. After the attempted assassination of the former president, cruel comments and images appeared online with lightning speed – even from candidates running for office.
Regardless of party, hoping for a person’s demise at the hands of a sniper’s bullet is reprehensible.
The name-calling, the insults, the quick calls for violence, so much of the rhetoric has gotten out of hand, particularly online. We urge everyone who comments or publishes on social media to pause and consider their words before hitting the enter key. The person on the other side of the computer screen or cell phone is a living person, with family, friends, and loved ones.
Remember that a key ingredient, the most important, of American freedom is the right to your own ideas, views, and words. Recognizing the right of others to theirs should be celebrated, even when we disagree.
These are our neighbors, the people we see at the grocery store, the folks sitting next to us in traffic. Just because our political philosophies differ, it does not make us sworn enemies. There is so much that we can agree on for the good of our state and the nation. It starts with restoring respect for the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
As always you can find us online at senatorsampson.com and repmastro.com.
Senator Rob Sampson
Representative Gale Mastrofrancesco