Our nation is somewhat like a family.
The parents (our elected leaders) tend to the official business that keeps the household (government) running as it should, and the children (that would be the rest of us) are free to pursue happiness.
Oh, we have any number of other pursuits that require responsibility and a measure of maturity and sensibility. But, in exchange for voting for the man or woman of our choice when elections roll around, we can have a solid sense of security, knowing that our elected officials are taking care of their end of things.
It’s sort of like the old days, when papas earned a living and mamas cooked the meals, and in the evenings, they and all the little ones gathered around the supper table and smiled as they talked about how their days had gone.
These days, though, the mood has changed. It’s as tense as if some papas have begun coming home wearing their favorite cologne, Eau de Cheater, and some mamas are hitting the bottle when no one’s around.
Which leads to the eternal question: Which came first, the bad behavior or the addiction? Did Papa’s cheating drive Mama to drinking, or did Mama’s drinking drive Papa out of the house?
It really doesn’t matter who started the present mess of political quarreling and finger-pointing, the end result will be the same — a real bad time all around.
On the other hand, elected officials may sometimes view the public as a huge herd of unruly children who just cannot be made to understand that what’s being done is for their own good, and that what they are proposing actually will work if only the herd would cooperate.
The thing is, we’re not children, government is not our parent and we have minds of our own.
Neither all officeholders nor all voters are behaving badly. They’re being civilized and trying to come up with constructive solutions to bridging the political divide. Unfortunately, a good deal of that civil and hopefully productive dialogue is being lost in the noise made by others.
Our nation is a family of adults, and we should all behave — and be treated — accordingly.
Elected officials should treat the public with respect. We’re not stupid. We don’t lack common sense. Most of the time, we have a pretty good handle on what’s going on with government issues, and if we don’t, well, maybe officeholders should do a better job of explaining things.
Voters also should be civil. Whatever side of an issue you’re on, let officials know what you think and why. Be specific. Stay informed. Speak up. Write letters. If you don’t feel like you’re being heard, don’t let up until you are.
If ever there was a time to keep the lines of communication open, this is it, and remember, those lines run both ways.
Pick up.
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Persinger is community editor for The Tribune. She may be reached at (812) 523-7063 or jpersinger@tribtown.com.

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