As I sit at home on this quiet Halloween Sunday flipping between football and the news, I find myself confused and dismayed by the political environment in this country.  I know we have always had liberals and conservatives at odds with each other.  But it seems that things in the past few years have gotten extremely divisive, polarizing, and downright hateful.  Have we really grown to hate each other so much that we cannot respect our differences and work together to get beyond our disagreements to make good things happen?  Gone are the days when Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil could cordially disagree from across the aisle and yet have a good and productive friendship otherwise.

Perhaps the "Me Generation" has become so ingrained in our society that no one really gives a damn about anyone else but themselves and those who fit into their perfectly defined little worlds.  We have come so far as a diverse nation and in many ways I see that diversity celebrated and encouraged.  But when it comes to government and politics it seems all bets are off.  If you don't have just the right opinion or belief regarding reproductive issues, don't ask don't tell, gay marriage, or health care, you not only cannot belong to a particular group, but you suddenly become the enemy.  When did that get so much worse than it had been?  While I certainly have my viewpoints and beliefs, I'm with Rodney King ... Can't we all just get along [and respect each other]?

I suppose the bulk of my frustration is with hard core right wing conservatives.  Not because of where they stand or what they believe, but rather because of their apparent need to legislate and force me (and everyone else) to subscribe to or live by their beliefs.  If you don't believe in same sex marriage, then don't marry someone of the same sex!  Am I wrong in thinking that it's that simple?  Perhaps so!  I'm struck by how ironic and contradictory the rhetoric is when it comes to limited government and the concept that government should be less intrusive in our lives, yet there seems to be no hesitation when it comes to intruding on the lives of people who are in disagreement.  It all just goes to show just how much hypocrisy there is ... on both sides.

Just some food for thought.