By Jeff Davidson
Each time you switch on the news or open a major newspaper, it seems as if the United States is irrevocably drifting leftward with no end. Don’t fall for it. Probably less than 5% of all Democrats approve of drag time story hour. Many Democrats cannot stand the blatant crime sprees in major cities. Most are not thrilled about massive airline and transportation boondoggles, toxic train derailments, baby formula shortages, and illegal aliens flooding our borders.
Indeed, whether or not they are aware of the far Left’s viewpoints and antics, many rank-and-file Democrats do not associate with the far Left. What the typical Democrat apparently doesn’t understand is that the far Left is besmirching the reputation of everybody left of center; even those who are close to the center. Bill Maher understands this. So does Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
I have liberal friends, and you do too, who know that the Hunter Biden laptop from Hell was real, that the Bidens are a corrupt family, and that some politicians on the Left are as self-serving as those on the Right. These liberal friends are aghast to know that without the consent of their parents, eight-year-olds are being induced to change their sex.
Not Fair, Not Impartial
Many liberals, however, believe that the mainstream news media is generally fair and impartial. They do know that The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other major metropolitan newspapers increasingly lean far to the Left. What they don’t understand is that the major media in the U.S. surrendered to the Left a quite awhile ago. Objectivity, or even striving for it, is gone.
The corporate media eventually decided to shape what they felt you should know, as opposed to reporting on what they felt you should know. Sharyl Attkisson was among the few CBS News reporters you once could count on for truth. Then she denounced the network. She wrote an illuminating article about when she realized that major media outlets were no longer seeking to hire journalists or reporters, in favor of hiring propagandists.
To this day, many liberals don’t understand the nuances and still believe that major media outlets do their best to offer straight facts. Don’t give up on your liberal friends, however, and cast them as being part of the looney Left. Most are not. Actually, you might find many points of agreement with them.
Agreement Happens
I have liberal friends who are firmly committed to a sound and well-prepared military. They understand the dangers confronting the U.S., not merely from the Middle East, but from around the world. I have liberal friends who are concerned about the encroachment of China into all U.S. domains, whether it’s launching spy balloons, unduly influencing South American, African, and Middle Eastern nations, and setting up research institutes throughout the U.S. to steal technology, and so on.
If you conclude that all your liberal friends are totally in league with the misguided Left, you’ll miss out on strategic alliances, mutual understandings, and maybe the ability to compromise on some issues.
If you can determine a few points of agreement with your liberal friends, that might lead to other points of agreement. Shades of gray exist within major topic areas. For example, while I am firmly committed to upholding the 2nd amendment, I don’t believe that citizens need AK-47 semi-automatic rifles.
While I support having a clean environment for future generations, I do not believe that causing severe economic disruptions or saving one species of the spotted owl is for the common good. Some liberals will agree.
Don’t Throw in the Towel
We all need to acknowledge that the U.S. major media and, increasingly, world media, generates the greatest revenue by creating divisions. They offer extreme narratives, whether Left or Right, to attract patrons. You rarely see milquetoast headlines from any media outlet; they simply don’t sell.
It’s tough today to be a patriot, to love America, and to watch what’s happening as a result of the tail wagging the dog. Don’t believe for a moment that the Left have any kind of majority. What they have are loud voices, multibillionaire backers, weaponized federal agencies, and street thugs such as BLM and Antifa who eagerly do their dirty work. They are, however, not the same as your liberal friends.
Jeff Davidson is “The Work-Life Balance Expert®” and the premier thought leader on work-life balance, integration, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management.
