To the editor:

Politics today has taken on a “Ford vs Chevy Mentality”. Brand Loyalty, a common enemy, and the desire to argue are its main characteristics. We wear hats, t-shirts, pins, patches, and put stickers on our cars.

Sports rivalries usually begin innocently enough. “Root, root, root for the home team, if we don’t win it’s a shame”. But soon chants of “Go Sparty” become “Wolverines Suck” or worse.

It becomes compulsory – “if I drive a Ford, then I have to hate Chevy.” But all still in good fun.

Political party loyalty in our country has gone beyond a simple rivalry. The divide in our politics has caused riots, violence, injuries, and death. Friends and families have been torn apart, some forever. People even talk about another Civil War.

Issues do not seem as important as unrequited loyalty to party and politicians. And it prevails at all levels; national, state, and local. Even School Boards are not immune.

But blind loyalty is just blind! Truth is lost, lies are told, and disinformation and misinformation rule the day.

Discourse is replaced by simple disagreement with whatever “the other side” wants. Debate is replaced by taunts, accusations, and name calling. Rules are broken and crimes are committed. All of it done in an effort to “support our team (party).”

Actions are often justified by the belief that “they” did it first, worse, or more often. The order of the day becomes “if you aren’t cheating you aren’t trying.”

Middle of the road politicians (Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, the late John McCain) are treated with disdain by their own party. Some are even censored, or (a new word for these times) “primaried.”

Worse yet, each party’s radicals are celebrated and allowed to set policy. How is this helping the USA? It just makes things worse, divides us further, and weakens our country.

In America our values have always been (in order) – God, Country, & Family. That is what made us GREAT, not the politicians. Now it seems like Political Party is at the top of the list for a lot of people. How else would you explain what is going on? Don’t blame the politicians; they do it to garner money, votes, and power. Don’t blame the pundits; they do it to for fame, fortune, and to increase their ratings. We the voters are at fault for playing along.