In the immediate aftermath of Tuesday's election, I was extremely taken aback by venomous post-mortems from people on the right of the political spectrum. Gov. Romney's passionate supporters are understandably upset after a tough loss, but dismissing those with different views as inferior or inadequate will not serve the common good.
What upset me most as I scanned through the Social Media spectrum was the overwhelming assumption that everyone who voted Democrat believes in mediocrity. It was all too reminiscent of the divisive "makers and takers" rhetoric that so viciously infiltrated this last election cycle. As someone who did vote Democrat, I feel it is time to set the record straight on a few things.
First and foremost, there is an erroneous perception that people who vote Democrat advocate for a so-called "welfare state" where everyone is poor, and that they do not believe in upward mobility or a free market economy. Additionally, many people on the far right predicate a belief that those who are not wealthy resent the people who are. These things are simply not true.
Most people who vote Democrat do not do so because they are lazy, entitled freeloaders who sit around waiting for the next Government handout. They vote Democrat because they believe in progressive ideas, responsible regulation of industry, equal rights, and economic opportunity for all not just for those lucky enough to come from affluent families.
I know plenty of Democrats who work hard to get ahead every single day, and many more who started businesses, created jobs, and wound up very wealthy. They didn't get that way because they expected the Government to take care of them. At the end of the day, most Republicans and Democrats want precisely what left-leaning individuals stand for - equal rights and economic opportunity for everyone. Essentially, they want the American dream.
The election is over, finally, so let's put partisan rhetoric aside and start coming together. We all know that the government does not have unlimited means, and that it simply cannot afford to "take care of" everybody. It's time to move back to the center and start doing the people's business, and both sides need to work together to determine the best way to spend the people's money in a way that preserves equal rights and economic opportunity.
Heidi Ruckno
South Williamsport
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
