Trying to find common ground

[pegkerr]

In thinking over today's comment thread, I started to wonder: what do all Americans really agree on, no matter which side they voted yesterday? What can we build from there? I'm groping for utterly non-controversal commonalities, that neither side can reasonably claim that they have "staked" for their side alone, but that all Americans can say, oh, of course, we all believe that, no question.

Um. That every child should be wanted and welcomed. [Some suggest that this is not acceptable to pro-lifers because it's too "coded" for pro-choice. Well, pro-lifers? Do you object to this?] [change to:] That every child would have a loving home. [Thanks ambar]

Clean air and water.

Safe food and medicine.

That old age should be free from the fear of want.

That we are I am secure within our borders and when we I travel abroad.

That there is a value to society in educating the next generation. [Although not all are willing to help pay for it. cakmpls suggests that there are Americans who don't see the importance in placing a priority on anything for the generation after their own. Do you agree?][okay, per comment by cedarlibrarian below, this gets crossed off. *Sigh*]

Fiscal responsibility, a job for everyone who wants one [although some would limit jobs by race or gender][jiggery_pokery points out that full employment is held by some to drive up inflation, so there are some who don't want full employment, alas], food and shelter for everyone [not that we are willing to pay for these things for other people.]

An appreciation for the dignity of every human person regardless of age, sex, race, sexual preference, religious difference, or mental capability. [Sorry, _lindsay_, but too many Americans are not on board with these]

That people would be able to recover from setbacks such as loss of a job etc. [Again, although some of us aren't willing to pay for it]

That Americans can better their lot in life through their own hard work.

I recognize that the parties may differ in how these goals are achieved, but am I right that all agree they are worthwhile priorities? What others can you think of?

(kokopo? amandageist? Bueller?)

Edited to add: amandageist offered a long, thoughtful reply that ran too long to be a comment here, so she posted it in her own journal. I offer the link so that people can check it out and comment if they'd like.

Comments

[cedarlibrarian.livejournal.com]

That there is a value to society in educating the next generation. [Although not all are willing to help pay for it. cakmpls suggests that there are Americans who don't see the importance in placing a priority on anything for the generation after their own. Do you agree?]

As a radical childfree person, yes, I do agree. It's hypocritical of me to say so because I attended public schools growing up, but the thing is, having a child is a choice. It doesn't take a village to raise a child; it takes two parents. The reason I don't necessarily believe in educating the next generation is because I didn't give birth to it. Children should be their parents' responsibility, not mine.

Also strangely radical: I do believe that all children who are born should be wanted. The world is overpopulated and full of too many children who aren't cared for, who are born to parents that don't want them for whatever reason. The childfree get the "but parenting makes you a better person!" argument a lot, and I say that can't be true due to the numbers of abused and neglected children, who weren't wanted.

[(Anonymous)]

So, in other words you could care less about those children who will someday be your doctors, dentists, politicians, personal caregivers in old age, or your library patrons who keep you employed. This seems to be a me-mine-and-ours attitude that does not think or care about more global perspectives of what it means to be part of a democratic society. If you cared to do a slight bit of research you would quickly find out that there is much more involved in raising children. The Search Institute in Minneapolis has created a widely known document about the 40 Assets for successful children. All 40 need to exist in order for children to become successful adults. One of these 40 Assets include important relationships with adults other than their parents. Your attitude seems to be very myopic.