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I Want A Divorce [1]

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Date: 2022-07-13

Dear Red America,

This is really hard to say, but it's been coming on for a long time, so I hope it's not too much of a surprise:

I want a divorce.

In the beginning we had such high hopes. We were so excited, so rosy-eyed about our future! We were embarking on something no one had ever tried before. It was daring, romantic. We knew there would be challenges, yes, but we had a plan.

And for years, decades, centuries even, the plan worked. We had a system to deal with our differences. We were able to grow and prosper and watch our many children flourish. We lived, maybe not in total peace, but amicably enough. Our plan was tested time and again, and survived each challenge.

Our biggest challenge came over the slavery issue of course. It almost broke us apart for good. You tried to leave, and maybe I should have seen the writing on the wall and let you go. Then again, it was certainly much better for the enslaved that we forced you to end that particular practice. But this battle was terribly harmful to the both of us, and even today the wounds have not completely healed.

Now . . . well now, what can I say. I see terrible things happening. I see revolt, lies, bloodshed, and the threat of more violence. I fear that even our ingenious plan cannot survive the onslaught of propaganda and lies that you are being served and eating with relish. And more and more issues are arising for which there are no compromises: abortion, basic human rights . . . I could go on. Our differences have become, well . . . irreconcilable.

Irreconcilable. . . and we can't even communicate anymore. We don't even speak the same language. You assert your rights to your own set of facts, and nothing I say can persuade you that you are wrong. I just don't know what else to do. I am worried that if we don't separate, one of us will end up killing the other.

I recognize that I am more financially independent than you are. I am willing to offer some alimony--for a limited period of years--to help you transition to your own independence. I am willing to agree not to impose sanctions or penalties on you, even for policies that I deem inhuman or irresponsible. So that you do not feel too vulnerable, I am even willing to divide our defense resources evenly, even though my population will most likely be far bigger than yours. I'm willing to sign any number of non-aggression pacts and other agreements to make you feel secure.

I'm excited at the prospects of being free of you. I can move forward with truly enlightened, progressive policies I have wanted for years: a national health care system, reasonable restrictions on weapons, and guaranteed human rights for all people regardless of, well, anything. I also welcome the chance to close some loopholes in the original American Constitution: clarifying and enshrining certain individual rights, clearly separating church and state, and separating money interests from political. We could make it more difficult for leaders to avoid accountability for their actions, to guard against the threat of authoritarianism that we are facing right now, despite the best efforts of the original Founding Fathers--refine the idea of Presidential Pardons and Executive Privilege for example. We could establish a culture in which every person is respected. The final separation may take years, or even decades, to accomplish. There will necessarily be several stages. We will need not only to decide how to separate, but how to decide how to decide. Possibly we will need to send representatives from each state to two new Constitutional conventions: one red, one blue. I do insist that our children be allowed to decide freely where to live--whose citizens to be--and to move back and forth freely. It will be hard, yes, and hardest on them. But at least we will be able to avoid a civil war in which millions could die and which could affect the lives of people across the world. A t the very least, perhaps once you see that I am deadly serious about divorce, you may see what you have to lose. You might think twice about forcing your will on mine. You might be a bit more willing to compromise, rather than exploiting every chance you have to get around the basic intentions of our original plan. One line I am unwilling to cross is coming up in an important Supreme Court decision next year. If the SCOTUS decides to effectively gut our democracy by allowing state legislatures to gerrymander themselves into a majority, then overrule the will of the people in federal elections . . . well then, I'm done. I can't let you single-handedly force me to live under an authoritarian system. I want a divorce. a national health care system, reasonable restrictions on weapons, and guaranteed human rights for all people regardless of, well, anything.

N.B., thanks for the Rec List, those who voted; and to reiterate, I welcome and respect ALL opinions on this subject, but please be polite. I think we’re all interested in what people have to say here, no matter the POV. Cheers!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/7/13/2110142/-I-Want-A-Divorce

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