And In Today's News ...

Here are a few of the headlines in today's newspaper:

• Guardianship firm ex-CEO admits stealing $4 million 
• GOP considers tax-hike trigger if revenue short 
• Gun retailers enjoy blockbuster Black Friday sales 
• Supreme Court refuses gun case (in which a gun advocate sought a constitutional right to own a semiautomatic assault rifle)
• Trump takes another crack at Warren at event to honor Navajo
• Franken apologizes for conduct
• Religious conservatives on wrong side of sex scandals (opinion piece)
• Signs the U.S. is hungry for pre-Black Friday values (opinion piece) 

These are just some of the headlines in one small newspaper in one town in one state. New Mexico as been described as being 'purple' -- a mix of politicians in high office of both parties. We have a two-term Republican governor, but both houses of the legislature have Democratic majorities. Both US senators are Democrats, and representatives from the northern half of the state are Democrats, but the sole representative from the more rural southern part of the state is an ultra-conservative Republican. Albuquerque's outgoing major is a Republican, but the incoming major is a Democrat. Rio Rancho has a Tea Party Republican major. Voters in the state narrowly voted for Hilary Clinton in the last presidential election.

To me, these headlines accurately represent the current state of politics in America and highlight the deep divides facing our country. Greed, sex scandals, verbal insults and racial slurs by the president, battles over the 'right' to own semiautomatic assault rifles, tax reform and dismay at the lack of morals in the country -- these are indeed the challenges we are facing as Americans. Red, blue or purple -- regardless of the color of a given state, the challenges are pretty much the same.

There are no easy answers. Sexual harassment and assaults are NEVER appropriate, whether the assaulter is an average Joe or the president of the United States. Those guilty of such actions need to be punished, including removal from office if they are elected officials. Stealing from the elderly and the disabled (and anybody else) is NEVER OK. Using racial slurs against anybody, US senator or not, is NEVER OK. NO ONE --religious conservative, liberal or anybody else -- should stand up in defense of those charged with sexual assault. What makes a recent case even more troubling is that the accusers were teenagers when the claimed assaults occurred, and some of the defenders are religious leaders.

I read a newspaper every day when I'm home. Some articles I read from beginning to end, while other I simply scan. I have never noticed how accurately the newspaper captures the essence of the major issues facing our country. 

In all honesty, these headlines scare and worry me. The moral fabric of our country is so torn it may not be repairable. The political and racial and ethnic divides are the size of the Grand Canyon. There is little, if any, middle ground. 

This makes me sad, very sad.