The Perils of Polarization

Tomorrow when I go back to work as a teacher, I will feel a little more demonic and a little less confident than I have felt in the past. This is because Governor Christie and Governor Walker are telling me that I am responsible for the bankrupt condition of the States of New Jersey and Wisconsin. It is me. I am the cause of decades of political corruption as an evil doer led by the Teacher's union. When I worked in the private sector, I earned 5 times as much in total compensation for working less hard and doing less valuable work. I chose to teach, not for the money and benefits, but because it is good work...important work. Most public servants do important work and when compared to the private sector for comparably important work, the total compensation package to include deferred income is comparatively poor. It is just that we are paid by our taxes. We have been put in this battle by State politicians who need a scapegoat. After all, America is all about scapegoating. We are a totally polarized nation. Polarized by political party, by gender, by race, by income level, by geographical region and by issue. We are taught to despise the demons on the other side of any issue where there might be disagreement. Hate the President because he is a socialist. Hate Muslims because they destroyed the towers. Hate Democrats because they tax too much. Hate scientists because they defy religious belief. Hate kids because they have no respect. Hate Republicans because they support the rich. Hate, hate, hate, divide, divide, divide. And now this division, this polarization is telling us to hate public servants for it is through their evil that our nations' states cannot balance their budgets. It is through the collective bargaining rights of unions that state mismanagement exists. More polarization. More blame. So tomorrow, when I am back in class, I will look around and remind all my friends that we are demons, evil doers and people to be feared. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?