So in a community that celebrates community when the kids trick-or-treat, the adults often find themselves in extended silly and serious conversation. That\u2019s what community provides: a foundational backdrop in which both the silly and serious can respectfully occur\u2026 with kindness and an always sincere, listening ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing our shared interest in current events, one neighborhood friend offered his brief, political commentary, knowing whatever he shared, it would be welcomed and we could discuss. It isn\u2019t an exact quote, but it began with something like this\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I just don\u2019t know anyone who would openly admit they\u2019re a Republican right now\u2026 or with the current executive\/legislative dysfunction, a Democrat either\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There was no intended disrespect toward any of either party faithful. There was simply a recognition that our home of the free\/land of the brave is facing some immediate, increasingly intensifying issues \u2014 and there are members in each party who are either (a) getting in the way and\/or (b) making things worse. While there are indeed long term and foreign issues in need of serious attention, there currently exist at least three sobering challenges in need of immediate attention and solution \u2014 so that we can actually deal with those other issues. We are in need of a rational, respectful \u201cmiddle\u201d to put pet issues and partisanship aside in order to solve these pressing problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that November\u2019s Election Day has passed, we need to embrace what\u2019s prudent \u2014 not partisan \u2014 and respectfully figure out the following\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19\u2026<\/strong> With case numbers declining \u2014 but more variants and outbreaks possible \u2014 what\u2019s our medical approach as we move from a pandemic to an endemic? What\u2019s a wise way forward with mask and vaccine mandates? Does a \u201cone-size-fits-all\u201d approach make sense, noting the demographics of Big Sky Montana are way different than a bustling, urban NYC? How do we honor all people? (Note: the key word in that last sentence is \u201call.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crime\u2026<\/strong> Crime rates are up. The FBI reported last month that there was nearly a 30% increase in homicides last year; a midyear report by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, a coalition of the largest police agencies, suggests this year\u2019s violent crime rates are even higher. While it\u2019s historically true that crime rates vary \u2014 but with at least four cities voting yesterday whether to dismantle law enforcement and effectively defund the police \u2014 the question before us is whether these two years are an aberration or a sign of things to come. This cannot be answered accurately if partisanship impedes problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflation\u2026<\/strong> While some would like us to believe that the current inflation is transitory or temporary, as the weeks turn into months and soon to a year, such analysis seems wholly inaccurate. Prices are on the rise; the United States currently sits at a 13 year high, annual inflation rate. Airfare, lumber, food and shelter \u2014 they are all costing exponentially more. While there exist multiple factors that impact inflation, three are especially significant: <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why prioritized policy matters. It matters how much the government spends; how much money is being infused into society? When too many dollars chase too few goods, inflation is likely to occur. When there are too many U.S. dollars in the system, the value of each of those dollars is lesser. And regarding the supply chain, when much of the American economy was forced to shut down in the wake of COVID-19, maintaining the same levels of production became impossible. Then came a labor shortage on top of the production slowdown, neither which have yet rebounded decisively nor well, and both which are detrimental to our economy and inflation\u2019s continued rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let the Intramuralist not negate the plethora of other issues that we as Americans \u2014 who have that in common by the way \u2014<\/em> need to address. There are serious issues both foreign and domestic \u2014 from within our individual state boundaries to the swollen, southernmost border to even the intensifying South China Sea. From energy to education, poverty to police, equality, justice, and the First, Second and even more Amendments, we\u2019ve got a lot to talk about and work through; we\u2019ve got a lot to solve. But there\u2019s a wise way to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as a parent said this week from Loudoun Country, Virginia \u2014 the current ground zero for what education should and should not include, how parents and teachers could partner together \u2014 we need to recognize we all have so much in common\u2026 \u201cWe’d all be better off if we declared peace, recognized our common love as parents who want the best for their kids and looked for a solution together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether parents or simply people, whatever the issue, we all have so much in common. So let\u2019s be prudent. Let\u2019s declare peace. Let\u2019s then look for a solution to the above pressing issues together, refusing to accept anything partisan, worse or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n\n\n\n (*Forbes,<\/em> \u201cBuckle Up: 3 Reasons Why Inflation Is Rising,\u201d June 10, 2021.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So in a community that celebrates community when the kids trick-or-treat, the adults often find themselves in extended silly and serious conversation. That\u2019s what community provides: a foundational backdrop in which both the silly and serious can respectfully occur\u2026 with kindness and an always sincere, listening ear. Knowing our shared interest in current events, one … <\/p>\n