Can we just get along and work together?

Why can one or several anti-gun activists try to ban firearms because two or three nuts do something stupid. There are millions who enjoy the shooting sports and seem at the mercy of so few. Now I certainly condemn abhorrent behavior by nuts and criminals but perspective is necessary so that we can all get along. Ever wonder why Congress can’t talk to one another? The answer is pandering for votes, said another way doing what you know is wrong but selfishly advances your agenda or pads your wallet.

Now before the usual suspects fire back understand that this cuts through the entire fabric of politics and parties. I am not slamming one group or the other or the third and want to be fourth.

It is now time to pull up our pants and start some meaningful debate about issues and be big enough to leave the partisanship stuff behind.

After all, what does blind allegiance, thoughtless rhetoric and passion really have to do with anything, solutions work or they don’t. But thoughtful debate respecting other points of view can fix flawed decisions if we distance ourselves from those whose only agendas is to whip up emotion for their own political or financial gain.

We have seen this over and over with the race baiting few, the anti-gun crowd and the silliness about the health care law or about saving face.

We are Americans, we can do better, so let’s just do it together and leave emotion and recrimination behind.

TOM SUTTMEIER

Sandpoint