My views haven’t changed since yesterday.

I’m guessing that yours haven’t either; at least, not foundationally. But that’s okay. I didn’t write yesterday to change anyone’s views. Believe it or not.

I still hate what politics has become.

I still hate that the two-party system has morphed United States politics into oppositional extremism.

I still mourn the lack of ethic or consistent rules and familiarity with the Constitution (and I am no Constitutional authority; just a citizen. With a computer. And a will to go look things up to be sure, on reputable and dependable sites that make a sincere attempt at accuracy and objectivity.)

I still have no interest in playing the game when it’s rigged against all of us.

And I still will not wear a party label, even though I lean a bit to the left.

So now I will go ahead and lose more friends:

I also lean to the right.

I lean to the right, just a little, because I am an American. I find that the functional bedrock of the right is responsibility and loyalty and maintaining a national identity that is based on a common set of values expressed in the Constitution. When the right’s methodology errs, it usually errs on the side of caution. It is based on solidarity without uniformity.

I find that the functional modus operandi of the left is freewheeling freedom, uncautious optimism and a general tolerance for just about anything (even if it puts the stability of the economy, budget or other security at risk). It frequently operates with little self-discipline or introspection. It is based on diversity without commonality.

I know that this is not the way the left would describe itself in more lofty and admirable terms. But that is how the results come out when carried to extremes. And even today as opposed to yesterday, everything is always carried to extremes.

If we want to address problems like too much abortion being chosen, we need to take personal responsibility to get personally involved in the lives of people making that choice and offer alternatives, be willing to give, be willing to provide, be willing to just get involved. Be a foster parent. Adopt. Donate to and support adoption centers. Support businesses that care about employees. Don’t expect government to be responsible for taking the tax dollars from citizens who oppose abortions to fund abortions against their will and conscience.

Again, that’s the subject for another post or series of posts.

And I will be the first to admit that, even as an adoptive parent and supporter of an adoption agency, I have not done all that I could or should to assist hurting and helpless people as I should. I can do better. We all can do better.

So I lean to the left. A little. Because I am a follower of Christ, and called to compassion.

And I lean to the right. A bit. Because I am an American, and we are one nation that should have some common values to which we ascribe.

I think I always have been a little of both. I suspect I always will be.

And I would be willing to bet that many of you reading this are split within your individual selves on issues, way beyond abortion that I’ve used as an example. Some of you are also split within your families. And your churches. And your neighborhoods. And your places of employment, your cities and towns, your states.

At least some of you are conflicted, right now, reading this. –Even if you don’t agree with any of the perceptions or opinions I’ve expressed in this post or yesterday’s.

So let me ask: why are so many of us willing to sell out our souls to a party whose ideology and means of achieving it are not consistent with everything or even most of what we believe in; a political party that doesn’t consistently produce candidates of good character and repute and capability?

I know some of you will think, “But I do agree with everything my party does and stands for! The other party is evil and heinous and ought to be wiped out at the polls at every election!” That’s fine. You just go on deluding yourself and letting the rich folks who contribute heavily set all your Party policies for you so you don’t have to think or worry about it. I’m not talking to you.

I’m talking to the folks who are still reading (even if fuming) who are willing to think for themselves, be honest within themselves, and commit to something better. I’m talking to people who will drop the pretense and the party-first mentality and the divisiveness and the defensiveness and the anger and the judgment and all of the associated crap.

I’m talking to people who might be willing to talk, listen, ask questions, dialogue, sharpen each other, understand, be open, re-think, respect and insist on better than what we have now. I wish to heaven I knew what form that would take. Maybe it’s a third non-party of Moderates or Collaborators or unlabeled independents. Maybe it’s getting more actively involved in the process, pushing the parties to better or at least more tenable positions; even to the point of running for office. Maybe it’s nothing more than people willing to go against the two-party-headed Hydra and write or call or inspire others — all the while insisting on something more and better than whatever rich and influential people want us to vote for to make them richer and more influential. I don’t know what it is.

I just know that what we have ain’t working, because we ain’t working together … and that something’s gotta change — and SOON.

(Comments are also closed on this one. I’m not in this for the debate. I’m not here to start a party or attack or defend yours. I just want to stimulate some thought and a little bit of righteous indignation over the fact that we’ve all been played.)