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

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Public fire departments and police forces.
(I think, maybe I'm being too optimistic) Public libraries.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Re: the police: wouldn't the libertarians disagree? Don't they want to privatize everything, including security?

Public libraries, I'm afraid that isn't a common priority, judging from the way our public library budgets have been hacked in this state. I think it should be.

[aome.livejournal.com]

I think 'fiscal responsibility', 'a job for those who want one' and 'food and shelter and freedom from violence' is in there, too. Again, differing on how those are achieved, but shared goals.

It always gets me when these basic shared visions come up in mud-slinging campaigns: "So and so voted against funding abuse shelters" (or voted to cut education funds, or whatever) and draws the conclusion that they are anti-education or anti-whatever - because I honestly can't imagine a single person out there who REALLY doesn't think that these basic shared goals that you've mentioned aren't good and important things. There have been measures on the ballot in the past that I felt represented good ideals, but I didn't like the suggestion of how we were going to pay for them, or I didn't like some other side feature, and so I voted against. Mud-slinging never paints that complete picture, of course, to say that so-and-so voted against X bill, but that was because it was flawed and the candidate felt there was a better way.

[ambar.livejournal.com]

I have not followed the development of modern Libertarian thought (especially the anarchist wing thereof), but Ayn Rand acknowledged that cops and courts were proper functions of a government.

I think you're more likely to get universal buy-in on libraries than on "every child wanted and welcomed" -- that phrase reads as pro-choice to the fundies.

Ambar, registered Libertarian

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Seems to me that the Republithugs consistently believe in only *one* of those ("security within our borders", of course). At least, they consistently adopt policies hostile to them.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

The hard-core libertarians won't sign up for public education either.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lindsay_/]

I think all of those are goals everyone wants, I would add an appreciation for the dignity of every human person regardless of age, sex, race, sexual preference, religious difference, or mental capability.

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

We may want everyone to want this, but I would say that's regrettably but provably not the case.

[silme.livejournal.com]

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

The only problem I have with that statement, as an ex-pat, is that not that many Americans travel abroad, which I think does create problems. Only something like 20% or so of Americans even possess passports. From abroad, the United States is viewed as being very insular. :(

I think....

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

You forgot the "My" and "I" in those statements to apply them to everyone.

[vass]

Freedom of religion. Sort of.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

That there is a value to society in educating the next generation.

There are a fair number of people who don't think that should be done by publicly funded schools. And I've met people who, from their statements and actions, seem not to see any value to society in doing anything for the welfare of the next generation. (I think you read my LJ enough to have read my rants on the short-sightedness of this view, even from the standpoint of self-interest.)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I think most people believe that we should all have a chance to recover from minor setbacks. Losing one family member's job, for example, should not be immediately and irrevocably catastrophic for the family. I think most of us believe in at least some second chances.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Alas. I think you are right.

Re: I think....

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Oh. Ohhhhhhh. Larry, I think that's exactly right.

*Sigh* Americans, as a lowest common denominator are awfully selfish.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No, alas, no. It is enshrined in our bill of rights, but the fundies don't believe in this. They are not willing to extend freedom of religion to, for example, Pagans. And haven't you heard of the politicians who try to claim that this is a "Judeo-Christian nation"? Or all the religious people arguing to put "Under God" into the Pledge of Alligiance, and to hell with the athiests?

*Sigh* This harder and even more discouraging than I thought it would be to come up with a list.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I think that's true. And you make me think of something else: that an American should be able to better his or her station in life through hard work.

Although, I suppose that for some that would only be his. *Sigh*

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I'd like to ask some pro-lifers if they would really object to agreeing that every child should be wanted and welcomed. Aside from what they feel about abortion, what can they find in that statement that is objectionable? I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that they could possibly object: do they say no, some children should be unwanted???

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, alas, you're right, which is why you'll note I carefully avoided mentioning public education. Do even hardcore libertarians believe in educating their own children, as long as they're paying for it themselves? Do you really think that you've met Americans so selfish that they are unwilling to do anything at all for the young?

I was trying to cheer myself up by doing this, but it making me even more depressed, because as we discuss this, it is becoming more and more clear how really selfish Americans are.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

There are plenty of Americans who have no concern for "fiscal responsibility" whatsoever.

[aome.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Well, I think that they probably acknowledge that it's ideally a good thing, even if they don't put it at priority.

That goes for the 'clean air and water' thing too, btw.

[mystril.livejournal.com]

Erm...you don't know me, but I lurk at your journal occasionally because I read one of your books (The Wild Swans) and like reading about the progress of Glare.

I wanted to add...safe food and medication. Everyone wants that, right? I know the libertarians want it privatized though.

I'd like to add access to health care for all. But I don't know if everyone is on that train.

I talked too much

[amandageist.livejournal.com]

Peg--My responses to your list exceeded allowed length for a comment. I moved it to my own LJ, here (I hope I did the link right, but I apologize, because this was your question, you have a broader f-list, and any debate on my responses is properly yours in your quest.

If using a cut-tag or something will make it fit over here, tell me how (I am a TechnoSquib), and I'll move it.

~Amanda

[trinker.livejournal.com]

I have encountered some militantly childfree folks who seem to feel that way.

Thank you, Peg, for making this effort.

Re: I talked too much

[trinker.livejournal.com]

You might try posting it in smaller chunks.