The VP Debate: Get Off the Couch
I don’t get a lot of time for politics lately. I love politics; it’s the one topic capable of lighting my fire on the dullest day. Between watching every Land Before Time movie, trying to make up stories without books, and finding hidden shapes in the clouds while lying on the driveway, I just haven’t found the time to flip on the news for more political banter. Last night I got my chance, thanks to grandparents who live an hour and a half away and can’t seem to get enough of LG. I thought I would use my freedom for laundry, or dishes, or writing my first book. Instead, I had to feed the need for a good election season debate.
After sitting curled on my couch through the entire production, I was disappointed; disappointed I sat through the whole thing without some form of vice i.e., wine, to get me through it, and disappointed I even sat through the whole thing in the first place.
No matter what side of the fence you fall on politically, there was no mistaking that the scene was more of a school-boy fallout than a dignified discourse on the issues facing our country. Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan might as well have had their sleeves rolled up ready for a slap fight. That’s what really bothered me; dang, I wasted my time for a slap fight? I could’ve turned on the Real Housewives of New Jersey if I wanted to see that.
Ego wars are a recurring theme in our country’s politics, and I’m not sure where they’ve gotten US. Up a creek it seems. What the debate hall needed Thursday night was a little feminine influence– or leadership, rather.
Women, we are seriously good at a lot of things we accuse these respected leaders of being bad at; a few of them humility, confidence, honesty, diplomacy. Politically, we have the potential to cross party lines and develop bipartisanship like no one has before. We can get our point across without eye rolling, stonewalling, or jumping on the defense. When we hone our skills, we have an innate ability to feel and connect with people. So why are we still sitting at home, curled on our couches, listening to someone else offer up the dialogue?
I’m not saying men shouldn’t be leading our country, because men and women alike can get the job done. I respect both Biden and Ryan even if I would’ve done things differently. The take away for me Thursday night was something I was told weeks ago during a political discussion: “if you don’t like it, do something about it instead of sitting around and talking about it.” A family member said that, and she was absolutely right.
Men jump into political races all the time. They’re bold and fearless and smear their charisma like glue. Well, we can do that too.
So quit talking about what you want to do, and do it. Let’s give people a debate they can remember for all the right reasons.
Image from http://www.bloomberg.com/image/iEuAp6lqj9xA.jpg
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