We need to stop attaching personal identity to party branding. That trick is how they have retained so much power and kept us squabbling at each other instead of holding anyone accountable.

Someone can be pro gun ownership and pro choice. Someone can believe in education, gun control, and be pro life. We can think we need police reform without thinking every cop is racist and the system needs to burn.

Almost every example of concentrating force in all of human history revolves around a few key principles. Dehumanizing their opposition, identifying a significant subset of their populace as the "true enemy" and discouraging open, good faith discussion. The common theme is to keep the people divided, to ensure their power base is never eroded.

I don't mean to sound apocalyptic or like I think every politician is a nazi in disguise, I'm actually an optimist. Most people actually agree on most things. The minutiae that get tossed around as contentious points so often are mostly there, I think, to stop us from realizing we all agree on the other 95%.

Regardless of any of that, you folks are awesome, I love my home, and I wish you all health and happiness.