| I was born and raised in Maine. As such, i grew up a | | | | I believe we have become so consumed with simply |
| fan of the home teams. The New England Patriots | | | | being a Democrat, or a Republican, that we pay no |
| have done us proud, 3 titles in the last decade. The | | | | attention to the issues anymore. Foresaking common |
| Red Sox got in on the action with two world series | | | | sense and common ground for being right or being the |
| titles, and the Celtics managed to win a championship | | | | winner. This has also, i believe lead to an overwhelming |
| of their own to add to the 16 they already had. Yes, | | | | sense of anger towards members of the opposite |
| we New England sports fans have had a great deal | | | | party from both the political and public stages. The |
| to be proud of over this past decade. So, why am i | | | | team mentality. I am a Red Sox fan and i despise the |
| discussing sports when i should be discussing politics? It | | | | Yankees. I dare say i hate them, hate is such a strong |
| is because i believe a rivalry, namely the one between | | | | word, but i do find myself getting worked up more than |
| the Red Sox and the Yankees will serve to illustrate | | | | i should if we are losing to them. I often ask myself |
| my point. | | | | why. It is a silly thing really. In reality they are just |
| In the early years of this great country there were not | | | | athletes that happen to be on the team that made |
| just your Democrats or your Republicans. There was | | | | them the best offer. The teams occupy the markets |
| the Whig Party, Federalists Party, Liberty, the list goes | | | | that offer them the best chance to thrive. And at the |
| on. Over the years though the two reigning parties | | | | end of the day it is just a business. A form of |
| were of course the Democratic Party and the | | | | entertainment for the masses. Not all Red Sox fans |
| Republican Party. There are others that we hear of | | | | dislike Yankee fans and vice versa... many of us a |
| from time to time, the Green Party is a good example. | | | | good friends outside of the world of sports. But those |
| It would be unfair to say that any other party is | | | | same friends become bitter enemies when they step |
| insignificant if it were not for the truth. During this last | | | | into that stadium to watch their team take on the |
| election there were other candidates, indeed there are | | | | enemy. |
| always other candidates, but the only ones we ever | | | | I feel that it has become this way with our two party |
| hear about are the Democratic or Republican | | | | system. Democrats and Republicans have chosen |
| nominees. The why, is simple enough. They are the | | | | their sides, the public has chosen their teams and now |
| ones with the financial backing. I personally feel that the | | | | it is not about reason. It is not about what is right, and |
| cost of advertising for any presidential nominee should | | | | what is wrong, or what is in the best interest of the |
| be waved. I will save that for another article. For now i | | | | nation. Its not about solving problems, and working |
| want to focus on the Team mentality that has | | | | together to make things right. Its simply about being |
| superceded/ underminded the whole point of our | | | | right. Its about we won and you lost, and we control |
| political process in this country. During this last election | | | | the house or we control the senate. We won the |
| people were so fed up with the state of things that | | | | Presidency and so on and so forth. The team |
| they were ready for change. Change can be good, | | | | mentality, you see. Now i am not saying that we should |
| but change simply for the sake of change may not | | | | scratch the whole thing and start over, no way that |
| lead us down the road we wanted. I supported | | | | would be crazy...and unrealistic. In fact i think we have |
| President Obama, simply because i liked what he had | | | | a real good thing going when things go according to |
| to say. He is one hell of a speaker and he can | | | | plan. The point of such a system is to have balance...to |
| certainly motivate a crowd. I am by no means a | | | | keep our country from tilting too far one way vs. the |
| Democrat, i am not a Republican either. I tend to | | | | other. The struggle is good, that is the point of our |
| consider myself a Demopublican if you will. You may | | | | political system. We cannot however; allow the system |
| laugh, but we actually had a couple of presidents that | | | | to grind to a halt. We must be willing at all times to |
| called themselves Democratic Rebublicans. Thomas | | | | listen and to find common ground. That is when things |
| Jefferson, James Madison and Monroe came from | | | | go wrong, when people are unwilling to listen and to |
| this party. I believe the term today is Centerist, but the | | | | communicate with one another. We have Democrats |
| name is not important. What is important is that i | | | | in this Country and we have Republicans in this |
| beleive it is very important for any citizen to be open | | | | country...above all else we must remember that we |
| minded and willing to listen. | | | | are Americans first. |