From my mailbag:
Let’s take a peek inside my Common Sense Civics and Citizenship mailbag to see what is on a few fellow Americans’ minds. (There’s always a link on this website to “Join the Conversation” if you would like to see the responses and conversations we have on my social media education page).
Question: Why do people vote the way they do? Why do they keep voting in the same people repeatedly who don’t deliver what they promise?
Answer: Most of our participants here have common sense. Thus, it’s difficult to understand why people do what they do. People vote the same people into office over and over because:
-They expect a different result.
-They rationalize bad behavior.
-They vote the same way their parents, grandparents, or friends vote.
-They simply recognize the person’s name on the ballot and vote for them.
-They place political parties and politics over any study or discovery of the issues.
Question: Why don’t we have another Constitutional Convention?
Answer: The last time we had a Con-Con, our Founding Fathers went into the meeting room to revise the Articles of Confederation. Voila! They came out with a whole new Constitution. This was to the benefit of our new nation. Imagine what could come out of a Constitutional Convention today. Do you think your five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment would make it out of that room alive? What about the Second Amendment? In fact, what about the entire Bill of Rights? How about the Checks and Balances in the Constitution? Property rights?
There are well-meaning people of integrity on both sides of this issue. However, at this point in American history, it seems inadvisable to have a Second Constitutional Convention. It’s best to respect and live under the Constitution we have. We remain the world’s envy for our individual freedom, among all the other privileges that we enjoy. Our American heritage is beautiful, indeed. We need to preserve, protect, and defend it and pass it on.
Question: There isn’t a question. Just an accusation in the mailbag.
Answer: This week, I’ve been called a lobbyist, an affiliate of the Koch brothers, and a few choice, unprintable names. Name-calling isn’t allowed on my educational page, so either Facebook or I delete those posts. I’ve been told that I don’t like free speech. Of course, I do! I like capitalism, too. Since I pay for the space on the page, giving respect and dignity to our fellow Americans is a part of what we do at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship.
People usually resort to accusations when they are out of ideas or unable to debate an issue. It’s a form of bullying. I’ve been called some very colorful names. So have some of you. When the name-calling starts, the conversation deteriorates and ends. Why? Because nothing productive or educational is happening at that moment. Especially on social media, it’s best not to argue with people you don’t know or will never meet. I always say, “Some come for understanding; others come for an argument.” It’s important to discern between the two.
That’s a trip through the mailbag. Thanks for being here!
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. ??
