Q&A | on the environment and voting
I'm waiting on all my current Meet the Reader submissions to come back, so we'll do a Q&A today in lieu of a Meet a Reader post. This Q&A is about the environment, which is relevant because I often write about avoiding waste and reducing trash output.
(There's a lot of overlap between frugality and environmental responsibility!)
Here's the question:
I've off and on read your blog throughout the years. I think I stumbled across it back around 2012 when my husband and I were on a quest to pay off $60,000 of student debt (yikes!). I really enjoy your gentle approach to blogging and how you foster a welcoming and kind environment that attracts all different types of people.
I realize I don't know you personally but something that I've been curious about through the years is that it seems like you care deeply about the environment with your passion for reducing waste but I remember a post where you said you tend to vote Republican and I was surprised by this.
It seems like the Republican platform tends to steer away from supporting legislation to protect the environment. There were several environmental protections that the Trump administration actually rolled back.
Especially now that I am a parent, I find this to be so devastating. I am so sad to see the effects of climate change and I wonder about the kind of planet we are leaving behind for our future generations. I am glad that on one hand some Republicans care about the environment but on the other hand I am having trouble figuring out if it makes much of a difference if they are voting people into office who refuse to take action when it comes to protecting the environment and slowing down climate change.
Anyways, I know this is a personal question but I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on it if you are open to it.
-Maddie
Hi Maddie!
Politics are a tough area for me, as they are for many people, probably. I'm going to answer your question, but first a caveat to everyone reading:
I'm going to share a little about my own political beliefs, and you are welcome to comment after reading. Disagreement is welcome, but please keep your comments kind and not inflammatory, or I will delete them. And as always, if you do not share my political opinions or thoughts, you are still welcome here.
Never fear: politics will not become a regular topic on my blog because heaven knows there is PLENTY of that on the internet already.
Alrighty!
The post you are referring to was probably one from quite a while back; I would consider myself more of an independent than anything else at this point. I don't want to get too deep into this, but I am pretty distressed by a lot of what I see from the Republican party.
I know that politics has always been a rather dirty game, but as a Christian, I am disheartened to see evangelicals in general not just tolerating, but enthusiastically supporting people who are relating to others in a downright rude, immature, and disrespectful manner.
And having grown up in the era where evangelicals were extremely hard on President Clinton for his moral failings while in office, I am utterly confused as to how so many are now saying, "Well, someone's private moral failings don't need to be relevant." It seems like such a double standard.
I also find myself looking at both parties and disagreeing with at least part of their policies.
It's kind of like with the pandemic; I have cheerfully worn a mask when requested, and I've gotten vaccinated and boosted (which would distance me from a lot of conservatives).
On the other hand, sometimes I look at the politically liberal reaction to this pandemic, and I think it's a little bit overboard...like, at some point, I believe you have to make peace with the fact that experts say this is going to be endemic, and you have to go live your life once you have taken the appropriate precautions.
There's no such thing as zero risk.
(And that is why I did not cancel my plans to attend FinCon this past September.)
Anyway!
There are aspects of both parties' policies that I agree with and disagree with, and environmental protection is definitely an area where I think conservative policy falls short.
As a Christian, I think that there are lots of reasons to take good care of our planet.
For instance, we're supposed to be good stewards of what God has given us. And as people called to love our neighbors, we should be interested in doing things that make our planet a healthy, sustainable place to live.
If you love people, then you should love the planet and take good care of it.
On the other hand, I think some hardcore left politics go too far, and concern for the earth begins to eclipse concern for people.
My approach to voting at this point is to take an honest look at each candidate and pick the one that most lines up with what I believe is important, based on my Christian worldview. Like, who stands up for the downtrodden? Who makes laws that best love our neighbors? And so on.
Thus, I do not vote a straight party line, because I don't think Christianity falls on a straight party line.
And that's the end of my answer. 😉
You are so brave to tackle this issue! I think I'm much more liberal than you tend to be, but I agree with nearly everything you have written here. We all have so much common ground and it's heartening to have that reinforced here. Thanks for all that you do!
@Katie @ The Cozy Burrow, Well said, Katie! That is exactly how I feel. Kristen, thank you for taking on this issue. I feel like we have a lot of common ground, especially regarding the double standard of the Republican party. I remember the 90's and the evangelical reaction to President Clinton's "issues" while President. Why are they looking past Trump's (and other politicians') lack of character now?
@Beth B., I wish I knew the answer to that question and to the related one, why Hilary Clinton is tarred by that same brush, when she stood by her man and remained married to him.
@WilliamB, That's another good question.
I completely agree with your stance and I love the way you explained it. Most Christians I know fail to realize that “Christianity doesn’t fall on a straight party line.” Reading your post made me realize I wasn’t alone.
Thanks for posting for grace on all subjects! And for encouraging us to take care of the environment by using less.
Kudos to you for being brave enough to voice your opinion. Many of your thoughts/feeling regarding both parties are exactly how I feel. I am registered as a repub, but also look at both parties in making my choice to vote for. I really appreciated this post!
Here you are again, Kristen, where angels fear to tread. 🙂 One of the reasons it's so interesting to read this blog.
Anyway. I think the political state you are referring to is now called "politically homeless," and I really feel like the majority of Americans are somewhere in that definition now. I have been for a long time, mostly because the things that just make sense to me based on my worldview and morals (yes, morals--which now feels like an awkward word to even say, but I'm not even going there) fall on both sides of the political spectrum.
And that makes me think the spectrum should be abolished, because placing everyone on a linear line that goes from left to right seems like it does way more harm than good.
@kristin @ going country, I think I've been Politically Homeless since at least 2008, but maybe even earlier.
@kristin @ going country, Well said! Agree with you 100%.
@kristin @ going country, I love the expression, Politically Homeless.
@Bee, Me too. I have never heard the expression, "Politically Homeless," but I feel that it fits a lot of people these days.
@kristin @ going country, "politically homeless" is a new term to me, but I find it to be very relatable. There are many great observations that Kristen and other commenters have written .... one of my biggest concerns is that it seems people align themselves with a party but don't reason through their choice. The lack of objective thinking is disheartening.
@kristin @ going country, I'm with you, and I think the two-party system is destroying people's faith in politics and the ability of our elected officials to get anything good done. IIRC, George Washington was very much against political parties, and it's a shame we've embraced the system the way we have.
Yes. All the gold stars to you for a sane approach and handling it reasonably. I’ve said for a long time that I’m conservative but not Republican. The divisive, vitriolic, my-way-or-the-highway, win-at-all-costs standpoint of many in the public eye on both sides has bled into personal lives by example, and it’s horrifying. (We need a real third option, but please not wackadoodle, which is what most thirds are right now.)
Well said! Thank you for being open about this topic. I happen to agree with you, but even if I didn't, I think you handled it with grace.:)
Parliament and voting in the Netherlands is organized entirely different from the US, or the UK for that matter. I am often flabbergasted that there are only two serious parties (or so it seems, from a foreign perspective) when we have dozens. Which brings its own challenges in forming a government.
I am deeply grateful to live in a day and age when I have the right to vote, and at the same time I find it hard to make my choice. You will never ever find a representative who matches exactly with all you find important and believe in. But at the last election there were actually two people who I deeply trust to place values over political gain. I voted for one of them. Neither of them are now in our government, but I applaud what they do in opposition.
I do not think I could ever go into politics myself, what a life!
@J NL, I find the parliamentary system difficult to wrap my head around. The idea that a government could just be dissolved by the whim of a monarch or because of a failure of a party to get a majority. The idea of elections being called at seemingly any time also feels very strange to me.
@Battra92,
The monarch cannot initiate dissolution of our parliament. Also bills will be signed by the king but need to be countersigned by the ministers to be valid etc.
You will notice I am not writing monarch or king in capitals. I am not a monarchist, and it is only witnessing the presendential elections in nearly every republic I can think of, that can reconcile me to living in a monarchy. In due course, I would expect our constitutional monarchy to develop into a ceremonial monarchy.
Our government handed in their notice because of the grave and scandalous errors they had made in the tax laws, leading to people losing jobs, homes and in some case even custody of their children. Then elections, months of discussions and lo and behold, we have the same parties governing us again that we sent away and the same PM.
It' s exasperating, frankly.
@J NL, very interesting to read the politics organization in the NL. In France, we also have dozens of parties, but only 5-7 are 'major'. I also find it difficult to choose the right candidate, now that some smallish parties are rising, and also now that the previous two major ones have kind of imploded/pushed the self-destruct button due to oversized egos. For example, 2022 is election year, one of the two formerly major parties just organized a primary; one candidate won the primary, but the other candidates refuse to join their ranks. So I totally understand your frustration on how slow and illogical things can be sometimes!
I have reached a level of disgust with politicians and their manipulative behavior. World wide, it as become the most dirty business on earth. And very fundamental things , like ecologie, are now a reason for dividing
peoples. Public service is nothing but a hollow word. More cynical then I ever wished to be.
Collectively as in the whole world needs to do more to save our planet. Several weeks ago someone was dumping trash on a lot at the end of dead end street right next to the creek. Old tube TV, various toys etc. Once the police arrived there was nothing they could do as the land owner gave permission for him to dump there. Hmmm....and why could those not be disposed in a landfill rather than next to a creek?
I think our party system may have worked 100 years ago but it no longer does. My opinion is our government gets more broke day by day.
I don't fit into any party and I vote for those I feel may do some good for the human race.
Locally we had a group that worked hard to get all voted county commissions ousted who were not pet friendly so they could curtail the endless killing of dogs coming into Animal Control. So change is hard but it can be done.
Nice response. I am agnostic and left but appreciate your perspective.
@Marinell Crippen, same on all fronts: agnostic, trend left, and appreciate Kristen’s response!
I remember having this discussion many years ago on a blog about Earth Day. The media was flouting every story they could find on the events for the day. I couldn't help but think it was a dog and pony show.
Every day should be Earth day. No fanfare, no speeches. Just each of us do our part. Pick up our own trash. Don't put grease down our sinks. Let the grass clippings stay on the lawn. We are stewards, not landlords, and we're only here for a short while.
As for the government, all governments, and all companies' main ambition is to make money. No matter their politics, it all comes down to money and power. That's been playing out for as long as mankind has been on the earth.
At present I'm a little more concerned with nukes in the hands of rabid and knee-jerk leaders. Those kind we can't overpower with marches and speeches.
Wow, you addressed the issue so well. Your views are very much in line with mine.
I'd like to add that there is a wide divergence of views regarding the environment and party identification. My husband and I often differ in our opinion of who should be in office but we both care greatly about the planet and do what we can to respect it. We are on the same page in that area.
My biggie is that I do not believe that the government alone can save us from climate destruction. Everybody needs to do their part to consume less, drive vehicles with less environmental impact (while driving less when possible), keep useful items out of landfills by finding them new homes, etc. I feel people expect the government to take the lead whereas individuals can and should. I don't doubt that government can do some good but it really comes down to individual actions and mandates aren't needed for them to be effective. We can start today, I started years ago.
@K D,
Agree, this is the point in my opinion. Individual responsibility
@K D, I agree with you about private and governmental action both, and I want to add another factor: the playing field is not neutral. Governments and economies have rules and those rules encourage/discourage/lead to actions and reactions. So we should work towards rules that encourage the actions we want. For example, if you wanted less electronic waste, then putting the cost of disposal on the manufacturer would greatly encourage them to use less materials and to make their electronics easier to dispose of or recycle. (This has been shown many times in practice: factories tend to be very efficient in materials that they have to pay to dispose of, and less efficient in materials that they don't.)
Wow, you were brave to write this post and I really appreciate your candidness! I am a fellow Christian (and American) but currently living abroad. Have generally but not always voted Republican. In the European country where I now live there are about 7 large parties and I have supported various ones over the years.
Thank you for sharing!
Ronald Reagan once said "It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." This is essentially how I sum up my view of politics and politicians.
For me personally, I'd definitely be categorized more as right than left but that's not to say I believe in everything that the Right pushes. Similarly, not everything that the Left pushes is bad, although there are times I'd prefer it implemented a different way.
My big issue, and this could be because I live in a fairly Liberal part of the country and hold views that are in opposition to those of my neighbors, is the sheer level of intolerance directed toward people like me. I've lost friends over politics many times and often see the line of "If you agree with soandso or if you disagree with suchandsuch then unfriend me now!" People who were totally okay with me for years decided I was persona non grata for thinking seemingly insane things like, "I think individuals should be allowed to determine their own masking risk."
So yeah, I tend to be right of center but I've voted for Mickey Mouse on more than one occasion (or simply didn't vote at all.)
@Battra92, I live in a very Conservative area and consider myself conservative, however, I constantly experience the same type of behavior you're describing except in reverse. I've been accosted and villified over and over just because I choose to wear a mask. I've told several people, "you do you and I'll do me!" But apparently that's not acceptable. I totally agree intolerance is unacceptable but what's the answer?
@Bobi, I wondered if my perception was off and that does appear to be the case. I mean, we only know what we know, right?
I think what's lost today is the ability of people to not have to "pick a side" as it were. I mean, sure I disagree with a lot on the far left but I think I find a lot of common ground with people in the center left (e.g. I'm AOK with requiring more benefits for PT workers, expanding those who receive overtime, taxing work outsourced offshore, finding better solutions for our busted healthcare system etc.) There are of course things where I don't think compromise is possible. So I think it's best to avoid all the minor fights and work toward compromise and save the fighting for the things which really matter.
@Battra92, I have actually written in “none of the above”. While some may say that doing this is wasting my vote, I think of it as voicing my opinion that the candidates presented are lacking.
@Battra92, I am a social liberal and economic conservative (talk about being politically homeless!), am deeply protective of my civil rights and civil liberties, and generally prefer to legislate systems that encourage the behavior I want to see rather than legislating the behavior itself.
For example, I'm dubious about seat belt laws and I don't see why shoes and shirts for service should be a legislative requirement. (Shoes and shirts laws were racist in origin, BTW, to keep out the poor riffraff, especially the poor Black riffraff.)
With all that in mind, this is why I think masks should be mandated in public: public air and public health is not a private good, and whether people mask in public has a direct and potentially lethal on everyone else. "You be you and I be me" works great when my choices don't have that sort of effect on others.
@WilliamB, The No-shirt No-Shoes signs were actually directed against hippies, not black people.
The debate on the pro-mask side is pure emotion of wanting to feel safer rather than actual data at this point. Vaccines were the real game changer; not a Baby Yoda decorated piece of fabric your grandma made which even the CDC admits was totally worthless. Therefore mandating via dictatorial powers is clearly against my viewpoint but I'm not going to stop you from wearing a mask.
@Battra92, In the spirit of this post overall, I looked up CDC guidelines about masks before I wrote this. Yes, cloth masks are not considered effective. N95 and KN95 masks provide the best protection, and are not worthless.
Vaccines are, of course, crucial.
YES!!! You are exactly where we are snd you spoke with gentle and wise words!
Very well stated! The one thing I've found the most disturbing during the last decade is the general meanness and disrespect coming from people I know who identify as Christians. When I was growing up, tolerance was stressed but few seem to have it anymore. On top of that, the sense of entitlement of much of society seems to preclude even entertaining a discussion of another point of view about any topic. Blindly following anyone or any party without carefully examining how you actually feel about their policies and actions and how they will affect us as a country has become the norm and our country is failing because we as individuals are not putting in the work to support our democracy by being informed voters.
I just choose to pick someone who fits in my standards regardless if they are the top two candidates or not. We seriously need more options! The last two presidential elections show two bad choices are two bad choices. I hate the term “lesser of two evils”. Evil is evil! How do I vote my conscience? Well in the 2020 election, I wrote in John Bel Edwards the prolife Democrat Governor from Louisiana. I also looked into two anti death penalty/pro-environment Republicans. **If a politician does not fit into the classical definition that Republicans/Democrats choose as their platforms, there is a zero percent chance they can even be looked at for a Presidential candidate. That is how the parties manipulate the system and keep us in this unhealthy loop of two bad choices again and again. I say break the cycle! Write in a good candidate. You can sleep better at night knowing your conscience is clean.
@Elizabeth, I totally wrote in Condoleezza Rice. So yep.
@Karen.,
My husband has been a fan of Condoleezza Rice for years! 🙂
@Karen
Genius!
Great answer Kristen! Kudos to you for tackling this subject and giving such a great answer!
Have you read Jesus and John Wayne? It really helped me to understand how we got where we are with Christians supporting Republican candidates who behave in such troubling ways. Highly recommend! Also recommend The Color of Compromise on this topic.
Yep! I read that book last year. It was a little depressing, but it did help me to understand how we got here.
@Cait, that book was such an encapsulation for me of my upbringing in the 1980s and patterns I've seen play out since but not put together (such as the obsession with Mel Gibson films by modern macho evangelicals...). I'm now checking out The Color of Compromise on your recommendation. Thanks!
Me too. Exactly, me too. All the exact same reasons and rational. Thanks for putting it into words.
Beautifully put, Kristen. Back when I was reading the Tightwad Gazette newsletter, it became clear that most things that were frugal were also good for the earth and that remains true today.
There was a tight-knit group of people in our church in our hometown who were dedicated to making sure that the church stayed on the path of green living. So whenever people complained about us not using paper plates or disposable pans for family night supper, the response was always, "Real Christians have dishpan hands." 😀
I love this! I am always so heartened when other Christians recognize the value of thoughtfully stewarding the earth and its resources.
Thank you for your careful thoughts on this subject!
Environmental and climate change needs to be addressed at the corporate/business level as well as the personal. That ultimately requires legislation, which comes from individual actions pushing for candidates with a strong ethic to protect the world.
At the same time, rabidly single issue candidates generally scare me. A government official has to have a broad knowledge of many topics to vote knowledgeably. Being a legislator has evolved to be a very difficult job.
@Heidi Louise,
Your first paragraph is so well put. Individual efforts matter, but to make the impact that is needed and fast, big changes must come from corporations and only legislation is powerful enough to affect that.
@Kristen,
I was so excited to see that you responded to this question - thank you! It is obvious you put a lot of thought and care into your response and I enjoyed reading it.
Well said, Kristen! I appreciate the respectful and loving views you hold. And Kristen @ going country? Thank you for a new term! From now on I am going to refer to myself as “politically homeless.”
I agree with what you've written.
Unfortunately in a lot of elections I feel like we have to pick the lesser of the two evils and hope for the best.
@Jenny, I must regretfully say that ever since I was first eligible to vote in 1976, I have never once voted for a Presidential candidate I was really enthusiastic about. It's always been "the lesser of the two evils." I'd like to see that change at least once in my remaining lifetime, but the odds at this point are heavily against it.
Great answer.
Excellent response, Kristen! it's okay for people to not agree on different issues. It's the ugliness and downright venomous behavior that is so wrong! And, I think people need to
be very attuned to their words AND actions. Thank you for all of your writing!
Your answer was so gracious, and I think it reflects the feelings of many people. The ones that don't get highlighted in the news.
Sadly, the most extreme voices are the ones that get amplified, and that's true of liberal and conservative voices alike. The middle-ground people are usually quieter!
I could not agree with your post more. Just confirms why I continue to read your blog. It's thoughtful, considered, and reasonable. And regarding the environment, it saddens me that so many people think if they just ignore the problems, they will just go away.I love my children and grandchildren too much to not care about doing something.
I just took a screenshot of your explanation of "growing up in an era..." and sent it up my sisters saying "this is another reason I like Kristen." I've typed up almost that exact same wording explaining my thoughts on how my being part of a politically active teenager in the nineties has impacted my voting (and my angst in the current voting world) to this day.
I'm another one of those "people in the middle" (as my neighbor and I like to say).
Sigh. Thanks for sharing graciously and pressing on to live out your faith well.
I tend to agree with you. I find many things I don't agree with on either side and honestly find it challenging to see any real good within politics. Everyone seems to have some sort of hidden agenda and people who think they know where they stand (as far as choosing a party) are very passionate about their views. They say, do your research, or do your fact checking, but I really don't know how you do that. How do you seek reputable sources? How do you seek the truth, when there is so little we actually know? People are biased and though they may not be outright lying, they may fail to mention some important information or overlook some things. I live in an extremely liberal city and though I agree with a lot of my friends and other people I meet on some issues I would NEVER publicly discuss my own personal views on many subjects. I don't think one's political views are so important that you exclude or cut people off because of them. I feel that's what would happen to me if I truly shared.
Republican here. I care deeply about the environment, as do many republican friends that I have. I also am vaccinated and I wear my mask at all times. I don’t think we can nor should paint people with the same brush. It’s not fair at all.
I also want to thank Kristin (I hope I spelled your name correctly) for answering this question with kindness and grace.
I think sometimes we get a caricature of each party, based on who is the most vocal. So, the impression we have of both liberal and conservative people is of the extremes. But I think ( and I hope I am right) that there are more middle Democrats and middle Republicans than it seems.
I'm going to respond substantively later, but right now I want to say how much I enjoy being part of community in which our leader feels she and we can have this conversation as a conversation and not as a fight or troll-fest.
I heartily second what WilliamB has said. I confess I opened the comments on this post a bit nervously, but so far, it has been a genuine conversation and not "a fight or troll-fest." Many, many thanks to Kristen for her example and guidance.
There are so many lovely people here; it's usually a safe spot to talk about things that are a bit controversial.
I personally think it's one of the best corners of the internet. FG readers are the bestest ones. 😉
Amen you are right on the target with your answer. I feel the exact same way on everything you mentioned 100%! If we as Christians do not stand up for the moral issues at hand, who will do it? We have got to use our God given rights for sure. Thanks for tackling this heavy issue.
Wow! You are brave! As always, you have approached this with grace and fairness. I applaud your efforts to facilitate an open conversation about such a contentious subject. I find myself agreeing with many of the things that you have said.
Having received degrees in political science and economics, I have a tendency NOT to look at politics from the point of view of a Democrat or a Republican. I evaluate policy on the basis of such factors as Constitutional consistency, economic soundness, long-term effectiveness, and so forth. This always gets me in trouble. I make both Democrats and Republicans mad.
Although I may approach politics differently than most, I find that members of both parties are more like each other than different. Often their differences lie not in the identification of a problem, but what each thinks that we should do about it. Unfortunately, these differences have been intentionally magnified for political gain - divide and conquer politics.
I find it disheartening that our country has become so politically polarized over the last two decades. I put the blame squarely on the inflammatory language, incomplete reporting, incivility and partisanship of our media and our political leaders who make consistent efforts to shut down opposing thoughts and ideas rather than considering them. The discussion of every of policy seems to disintegrate into name calling, grandstanding, and the disparagement of the “opposition.”
This has trickled down to the citizenry, and we now see private citizens and businesses take aim at individuals who do not share their political views. For example, the CEO of Penzey’s recently used Martin Luther King Day to have a “Republicans are Racist” promotion. Really? Besides being absolutely insulting to Republicans who roughly made up (past tense) 1/2 of his buyer base, it denigrates the memory of the greatest Civil Rights Leaders of our times.
I’m sorry this is so long, but I am passionate about this subject. The current political climate is absolutely destructive to our democracy and our individualism. As a country, we really need to learn to discuss the matters that affect our lives now and in the future. Things are a mess.
Yup; we have to somehow learn to listen to each other, find some common ground, and be able to tolerate disagreement.
@Bee, Thank you for your comment. I was musing over how to comment on the media coverage of government, which is so much part of the polarization, and you worded it so very well. Thank you!
And of course, studies have shown that people tend to follow the media that most agrees with their views. After all, why would you watch or read something that makes you uncomfortable? Finding other points of view takes work, and not everyone wishes to search them out.
@Bee, I have no idea what Penzey's is but that is truly disgusting. In 2017, the Azle (TX) Cafe had an equally ill-conceived promotion for MLK day when they offered a lunch special of chicken and waffles with a side of watermelon. Poor judgment knows no political party.
@Kristen, you probably already know about Sharon McMahon’s Instagram account and podcast SharonSaysSo. I highly recommend it for her presentation of the Facts about various issues and news. She says her conservative followers think she’s too liberal and her liberal followers think she’s too conservative ha!
Also I like the resource AllSides which presents news coverage from Left, moderate, and Right news outlets.
As everyone has said, thank you for your kind approach! This community is the Best!
I too consider myself an independent. I think your answer was smart and classy!
I cannot condone any rude behaviors by adults.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts so graciously and reasonably. I wish that I didn't consider it "brave" to share this post. Our political and online discourse has sadly gotten so heated.
That's so true; it seems like many of us have lost the ability to disagree but still be friends.
You may enjoy the podcast Pantsuit Politics. The hosts are probably a bit more to the left than you are, but their tag line is "a different approach to the news," and I appreciate how they discuss a wide range of topics. One of the hosts used to be a Republican and became similarly disheartened by what the Republican party seems to now represent/tolerate.
Thank you for sharing - I currently vote for the candidate that most closely aligns with my Christian belief however that seems to be getting more and more difficult on both sides of the aisle. Really feel like ALL our elected officials could do with a good dose of reality and common sense. That said I feel blessed to live in a country that still believes in personal freedoms, no matter how much I might disagree with some of the ideals that seem to be so prevalent today.
Yup. I cannot take people very seriously if they freaked out about Bill Clinton's moral failures, but excused Donald Trump's. You should be either equally outraged or equally complacent, but it makes no sense to have a double standard that depends on a president's political affiliation.
@Kristen, Agreed. The level of hypocrisy of the incredible ire that Clinton's moral failures drew yet Trump's are ignored is maddening to me. I live in an extremely conservative state and am constantly appalled with the vitriol that my "Christian" neighbors espouse just to "own the libs".
I think I’ve been politically homeless since I registered to vote in 1978! As for environmental issues, I think most of us “average Joes and Janes” do the best we can on a day-to-day basis.
You are a brave woman to go public with your political views. You did a VERY GOOD job of expressing your feelings.
"Thus, I do not vote a straight party line, because I don’t think Christianity falls on a straight party line."
I agree completely! And it's super hard to find a candidate who agrees with everything I believe or feel is important.
Historically I've voted more Republican than not, but one thing I've found to be helpful (or at least it helps my peace of mind) over the last year or so is to reach out to my congressman (who is a Republican) on areas that I'm passionate about that don't line up with what I observe to be typical for Republican voting. I always thank my congressman for his service and all he does. Then I explain that I care about a pathway to citizenship and why. Or I explain that I can not and will not vote for a particular person in the next election based on x, y, and z and I hope that we can find someone better.
If you're passionate about creation care, I encourage you to reach out to your local elected officials and let them know!
The incivility is going to continue as long as ALL major news medias continue to push their individual agendas and fan the flames of discord. This started with 24 hour news and they had to fill up time and figured the more outlandish their programs people would watch.
We need to go back to just the facts.
I'd also venture to guess that the internet has not helped matters.
@karen,
I find myself going directly to the source as much as I can. So much of the reporting on major news outlets is slanted. I read proposed legislation, Executive Orders, and The Congressional Record. I suppose I am a bit strange.
Yes! Yes! and Yes once more!!!!! Beautifully stated.
Thank you so much for your post as I feel the same way. My husband and I actually changed our political party to non-partisan and we don't go to either extreme. We are conservative but middle of the road, and also look to our Christian values in voting. It is not black and white. I think life is lived in the gray area. What feels concerning to me is how polarized people seem to be, at least where I live. It feels like the gray area is shrinking.
Wow! You are brave! As always, you have approached this with grace and fairness. I applaud your efforts to facilitate an open conversation about such a contentious subject.
Having received degrees in political science and economics, I have a tendency NOT to look at politics from the point of view of a Democrat or a Republican. I evaluate policy on the basis of such factors as Constitutional consistency, economic soundness, long-term effectiveness, and so forth. This always gets me in trouble. I have annoyed both Democrats and Republicans.
Although I may approach politics differently than most, I find that members of both parties are more like each other than different. Often their differences lie not in the identification of a problem, but its solution. Unfortunately, these differences have been intentionally magnified for political gain - divide and conquer politics.
I know that I cannot change the current political climate. However, I can take personal responsibility for things within my control and the decisions that I make. A million little things have a big impact.
@Bee, sorry didn’t mean to post twice. Great posts all around!
I'm with you--choose independently according who best appears to be doing the right things. I just wish we had more options of people doing the right things.
Hi Kristen - I'm way more left leaning than you and (probably) most of your readers. Even so, I've been reading your blog for years and years. I realize we don't actually know each other, but your voice is one of the very few 'Christian' ones I know of that shows a life mirroring what Christ actually taught, without all of the reeking hypocrisy. I personally don't believe that organized religion has contributed positively to the world, but if those who do supposedly believe were more like you, that perhaps would change. So, thank you for your perspective and for giving me hope that caring, morals and dignity are not completely lost to us.
Aww, that is a very encouraging thing for you to say to me! Thank you.
I appreciate your thoughtful and caring explanations.. not that you owe us any! I agree with you on many points.However, the past few years treatment of women and children and the handicapped by the Republican Party, have caused me to go from being an “independent” to a a registered Democrat.I will never again vote for a Republican. I am a straight ticket Democrat,always,from now on. My important issues are women and children and families and health. I also have been raised to believe we owe each other a “leg up” when it is needed and that means supporting student loans, and even free community college.It’s how I want Washington to use my taxes. I am kinda dreading the next election cycle but I will vote. I am going to try hard to just have Faith that someone all this chaos in our society will turn around.
@Madeline, I share the hope of your last sentence, while still being painfully aware that when it took a long time to get into a mess, it might also take a long time to get out of it.
Kristen, you have deftly, thoughtfully, courageously and respectfully entered this minefield. And the expression in your picture perfectly captures how many of us feel.
To me, the environment is literally a foundational issue. If we don't have a sustainable planet, the rest is irrelevant. I feel the same way about democracy.
While I do not conceal that I'm agnostic (although I give a lot of money to my church for various reasons) and liberal (although I sometimes disagree and am often disappointed in certain views/actions), I prefer to amplify what binds us rather than divides us - both on this blog and within my community. Where does divisiveness and incivility get us? Nowhere, and I will not vote for anyone that stokes it.
I'm glad that individuals can do a lot on issues - like the environment - without the government. As Margaret Mead said, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Oh, Kristen, this is a hard topic. I am a little surprised you broached it, but you know what? You did it very well!
I always felt a little "politically homeless" (thanks, Kristin, for that phrase!) because I am a Christian and rather conservative but hold some views from either side. I know quite a few other people like me.
My husband's final job was in recycling -- he and his employer kept literally tons of concrete and asphalt out of the landfills by finding ways to use it again successfully. I can tell you from things he heard and saw first hand, there is dirty pool out there in environmentalist land. There are some people boasting of how they are saving the planet as they quietly line their pockets, strike backroom deals or ruin a competitor with laws slanted to favor one side. It's disgraceful. There are truly genuine people working to genuinely do better things for the planet, as well. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell which is which from the outside.
I think I always assumed that most of us here had a number of issues in common - we seem to value frugality, family, friends, kindness, generosity, the environment and doing it ourselves. This blog encourages me because, regardless of any differences we also have, I see by this blog that we can find ways to maintain cordial and friendly relationships through our common interests. If only we could get everyone else to line up with that idea.
This post was such an encouragement to me. Thank you for sharing an alternative to partisanship for Christians in our political climate.
Beautifully written!
There was an article years ago that traced the two parties in Washington becoming so antagonistic about/against each other to fund raising. It used to be that people's families moved to D.C. when someone was elected to Congress. People's kids went to some of the same schools, parents saw each other at school activities, they attended some of the same parties and wives (very few women were in Congress then) socialized and dragged their husbands along. It was harder to be ugly toward people you knew over a hot dog and a pop, or whose kids played at your house. Now the fundraising is endless and since the elected member has to go home so frequently to fund raise, they don't bother moving their families to D.C. and just see them many weekends. The end result is that there is no friendly cross-over of parties and it becomes easier to attach nefarious aims and nasty names to political opponents. And we know from demographics that some of the same things are happening across the country---people are settling in groups of their own political beliefs, which makes it easier to demonize others. Add to that listening to partisan news broadcasts and soon you hear nothing but your own echos.
Brava. So well said!
Well said!!
I apologize for a really, really stupid question, but when someone says they are a Christian, what does it mean? I always assumed it was just a good church-going Protestant, but it’s more, right?
BTW, Kristen, when someone unsubscribed or somehow verbally attacked you for no reason several months ago, I suspected it was because of what she thought all Christians think.
Well, it is a fairly big umbrella. It's a little hard to accurately describe a label for myself...I hate the term evangelical, for instance. I am a Protestant, and I've typically gone to Presbyterian churches, if that helps.
And yes, people definitely do make assumptions about Christians. I got an email a while back berating me for voting for Trump twice, and the hilarious thing is that I did not vote for him either time. This person just made assumptions.
Such a thoughtful answer Kristen!
Thank you for sharing your opinions. That’s a really brave thing to do online.
Amen! We have so much extremism in our country these days, and so many people who tell you anyone who disagrees in any way with them is wrong on everything. I think our country's primary system is most to blame. It caters to extremists in both parties, rather than looking at what most people overall want or what is good for society as a whole. We really need to get over this "us" vs "them" mentality and work together to solve our country's problems.
I have always been a Republican, but more moderate than conservative, especially on economic and social issues. I was always for less govt, but I must confess I admitted to dh the other day that I identify with far more Democratic... strategies if you will. Since dh had his stroke and because he is a fall risk and has no use of his right upper body, I am his caretaker. If it were not Social Security, we would have no income as we went through our savings living until he was approved. We would depend on fami!y for a home and food.
I am 53 and I am not a fan of my generation and older being intolerant of the younger generations. I abhor tattoos and the language I hear in public sometime, but I'm sure when I bleached my dark brown hair platinum blonde on top, I scared a few blue hairs.
I am an avid recycler, even though I know that few towns and cities do anything other than put it in landfills. It just seems like something positive I can do.
This post was such an interesting read, as a foreigner. In France the political landscape is a bit different, we have 5-7 'big' political parties now, instead of just Republican vs Democrat, which basically means the whole electoral campaign business has become harder to navigate in the past 10-15 years.
2022 is election year, and I tend to approach voting similarly to you Kristen, I read the programs of all non-extremist parties* and choose the one that fits best my values and priorities at the time.
(* we have both extreme left-wing and extreme right-wing parties, their programs are terribly dystopian, even though they are direct opposites. Extreme right is on the rise, and gives us a scare every few elections.)
It was very interesting to read that some people in the US are also undecided or, as you say, independent on this topic. That's not what I read regularly about voting habits of Americans, and I find this refreshing somehow. I mean zero judgement here, it's just that in most articles, tiktoks, IG posts, etc, people seem quite sure of where they stand.
Related topic: I recently learned about the concept of 'ad hominem arguments', and this is 100% happening on the French political scene. Reading up about this helped me understand better the tactics of public speakers and sorting out the interesting vs useless bits. It also helps me eliminate candidates from my list.
@F fron France, As someone who has never had a FB account, but does have a Hilton account so I can see all the cute animals, it's horrifying to think that's what the rest of the world judges us by, but I'm not surprised. I'm at least glad you found Kristen so you know we're not all nutters.
@Jennifer, Not Hilton, Tiktok!
@Jennifer, I guess the media mainly shows clickbait worthy people...
@F from France, Absolutely. Though "worthy" isn't the word I would use.
Also, just to mention based on what I expect the rest of the world sees, not all Americans own guns. Some own more than one; some own none.
@Heidi Louise, agreed on the worthy bit!
On the gun topic, we really do hear that the country is very divided, and it is clear that a very large portion of Americans are not fans of these weapons, and do not own one 🙂
Kristin, as a Christian I too have been perplexed by the Evangelicals. You were so articulate in your response and reflect feelings shared by so many of us. Thanks so much. God bless and please keep blogging. It’s a highlight of my day.
You are a gem. Thank you for sharing this!
One of the best things I’ve ever done was to take community college courses called American National Politics, World Politics, and State and Local Politics! Worth every penny and every minute. I wish I had learned this stuff in high school or at least years ago- if I, a mature professional college graduate was this uninformed, think of most voting Americans!
Really appreciate your thoughtful approach to such a difficult topic! I'm further left than you (based on what you've described), but agree with much of what you've said.
I'm a white woman, and marrying someone who is not white brought to the forefront many things I would have gone on my way in life not understanding. While I still do not understand what it's like to be a person of color/minority in the US, I have a much better understanding than I did before. So, I guess I'd say my politics start somewhere around equality & working hard to ensure we are progressing as a society are #1, followed by a few of the topics you've mentioned. I DO NOT always agree with the implementation of legislation of policies around this topic, but it's hard not to feel like one party cares, and one party...does not. They've backed each other into a corner & something in the middle where we all strive towards equality, but policies are thoughtful and considerate of all tradeoffs exist.
I have plenty of other priorities, but voting for a party that has been so isolating in this regard would be very difficult for me. And, this feels like a recent trend. There are previous politicians on both sides of the aisle I would have happily voted for (and have) ten years ago or further back. Now, things are just so extreme.
I'll echo some of the other comments about people ostracizing you based on your politics. I've definitely seen it from both sides, and it's disappointing, no matter where it comes from. I think the rise of technology & social media has put people into "groups" they identify with, and people not in your "group", can be perceived as an affront or offensive to you.
Yup, yup, yup to your last paragraph. There's way too much of us identifying as this or that, and then that makes people outside our group, "others".
I read FG almost every day but have NEVER commented before (at least, not that I remember) but today I just have to say I appreciate your willingness to talk about an incredibly tricky and complicated subject with honesty and grace.
Politically Homeless Christian would describe me as well. 🙂
Oh, I am so glad you delurked! Yay! Don't be a stranger. 🙂
I am a registered Democrat but in the past have voted once for the Republican party. This was to show my disgust over a candidate who had had mental illness problems in the past being dropped as a candidate.
I do get annoyed at the the feebleness of my party, both at election times and when in office.
I worry for my grandchildren living when climate change will worsen even more.
I don't know if covid will become endemic in my lifetime (I am nearly 85) even with all 3 shots I am in a high risk category --as are most oldies. I resent the idiocy of those who refuse shots, especially for their children, and also endanger the rest of us.
I know of one child, now deaf and partially blind, whose parents refused the measles vaccine and this little boy suffered a serious attack of the same., with a dreadful aftermath.
I call myself a liberal if asked. I remember Gloria Steinem saying in a talk at the University of Texas "Women become more liberal and men become more conservative as they age," This is mostly true in my experience.
Thank you for well-expressed opinions. I find most people I know agree with your sentiments. (from many faiths) Midwesterners tend to see helping others, eliminating oppression and discrimination, and caring for the world in general as good citizenship.
Thank you for the thoughtful post and all of the kind and respectful commenters. It gives me a lot of hope that there are many of us who are still willing to listen and not vilify anyone who doesn’t agree with us 100%. I think voters expecting politicians to pass purity tests is another reason why it’s been so hard to find common ground on important issues.
Thank you for tackling these tough political questions! I often find myself confused about politics, when both sides let down our faith. You may be interested in a book called "I think you're wrong, but I'm listening." It's a great read about building bridges across the political divide through friendship and conversation, not arguing over the internet.
Kristen, your answer was very classy and non-provocative.
The common misperception of Republicans not caring about the environment comes from a lack of truth in reporting, resulting in a sweeping generality of conservatives as insensitive jerks.
Media bias purposely sugarcoats environmental legislation, ignoring the damage that will result from many of the proposals.
It would be helpful to those who are "politically homeless" to delve a bit deeper into the topics that are causing ideological confusion and find the truth.
For example, in California there is a huge push toward electric cars. Yet there is no talk about how those batteries are manufactured or disposed of. There is no mention of the fact that electricity is getting harder to come by, with the shutting down of things like coal, nuclear power, natural gas, and even the foolishness of calling power from rivers "non-renewable".
No one wants dirty air and dirty water, including the "far right". They just tend to look at consequences of environmental legislation rather than the veneer of "saving the planet".
I sadly also feel “religiously homeless”. I am Catholic. I just cannot fathom the priest molestations and political preaching from the American bishops. No other church feels “right”. It is a tough place to be.
This was a really good post! I appreciate your nuanced view and your willingness to share. I am in Canada so our political parties are not the same but I am also not a straight party line voter, more for practical reasons than anything else. There are better and worse politicians in any party, and there's also the question of wasting your vote if the party or individual you like best has no hope of getting in. I think the best voting takes many things into account.
I share your dismay regarding the Republican party. It seems to have devolved in recent years into something much darker and more sinister. I've been learning lately about something called "accelerationism", which is the desire to break down the system in order to seize power. It seems to line up with what I see happening in the US, and coming up here too (our current truck convoy being a good example.) There's a willingness to deceive in order to hide the desire to destroy the system which I find frightening, because people don't necessarily understand what they are agreeing to or supporting. I would much rather live in an imperfect democracy than under whatever is planned (using that term loosely) to replace it.