Rob- I will confess that this post about your sister did disturb me a little. I want to tell you about some other relatives I have. I have relatives that are faithful watchers of FOX network’s news shows especially the pundits. I have noticed a change in them. They go through their day in a highly agitated state. They are quick to point their fingers at the “scapegoat du jour”. (This week I’m sure it was those greedy teachers and their unions that caused the recession. Not those noble Wall Street derivative traders that deserve every penny of their TARP bailout bonuses). They have accused yours truly and other relatives of being “RINO’s” “Socialists” and “liberals”. In fact, if you disagree on one issue with them, you may as well swim your un-American-ass back to Europe with a middle easterner under each arm. (Well maybe not but you get the point.) In their eyes, moderate equals liberal equals communist equals everything wrong with the world. I don’t know if they always had these views but their nonstop watching of FOX news has brought out an ugly side of them in recent years. Nowadays, I refuse to talk politics with them. I love them but you can’t talk with a Zealot about some things. It seems to me that you suffer from the same agitation they do. But I give you credit for this- you will at least switch on MSNBC to try to get a different perspective. I think underneath it all, you want a constructive dialogue the ends in results that everybody can live with and you strive to gain an understanding to that ends. The problem is that MSNBC does the same exact thing FOX does only from another angle. Thus faithful watchers of MSNBC can be just as preachy and bitter. The point is do not let political views get in the way of your family relationships. -Matt


While I agree that there are some harmful side effects to watching FOX and MSNBC on a regular basis, in fact I have reduced how much of it I watch.  I got the impression that you believe they are mainly at fault for the political battles that have been taking place in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, among other smaller battles like here in Florida.


If I misinterpreted you meaning I profusely apologize.


While I would agree that the cable "news" channels have a large part in the current political upheaval; they are not the only ones to blame. I don't think FOX/MSNBC had much to do with the Wisconsin democrats fleeing the state and not doing there jobs. Maybe the cable networks had a little to do with union workers storming the capitol building but I am sure there is a lot more to it.


But those incidents are basically just physical manifestations of what I believe is the major problem; a huge lack of honest, open, non-judgmental communication between our national leaders.


I had hoped that I was doing a decent job of getting that point across. But I am sure that what I wrote about my sister damaged what progress I may have been towards getting that point across.


At the same time, I wonder if my actions are an example of what is going  on with our policy makers.


Are Republicans and Democrats digging political foxholes too deep on issues like; health care, the economy, debt ceilings, unions, and other issues? Are both sides entrenched so far in their ideology and too emotionally invested in the issues that their abilities to be rational, communicate effectively and find compromises are too greatly hindered?


I am starting to think that the answers to those questions are yes. And that bothers me. A lot.


As for my family political differences are minor things.