It’s a gray, gray, gray world

I’m getting really frustrated.

Whatever the issue under discussion, everyone seems to have a completely black or white opinion.

Tax hikes for the wealthy?

They’re good!

No, they’re bad!

Marines apparently urinating on some dead Taliban fighters?

They’re heroes!

No, they should be court-martialed!

The Keystone Pipeline?

“A wonderful idea!” say the oil companies.

“A horrible idea!” say the environmentalists.

And now the latest. Obama’s State of the Union speech?

Brilliant!

Really stupid!

Is it just me, or am I the only one who can usually see both sides to every story? Is it really so hard to see that yes, the rich should be willing to pay more to support the country because they’re able to, while still be opposed to the unfairness of taxing some people at a higher rate than others?

Can we really not support our military for the dangers they face and the hardships they endure, and yet think these men should have been above such a response?

Can we really not like jobs and this beautiful country at the same time?

Black and white opinions are so easy. You pick a side, and pull on the blinders. Everyone who agrees with you is a saint, and anyone who disagrees is a, well, lunatic. And facts? Well, facts are just lies the other side makes up to try and shift me from my purpose.

I have a feeling that if there were any black and white solutions that would have solved any of our nation’s problems, someone would have tried them a long time ago. Politicians head for Washington thinking they have all the answers, but once elected, they discover there are questions they have never even thought of.

On top of it all, sometimes the right answer might not even be the best for you, but rather the best for the most of us.

I had the great privilege of speaking with some of our young people for the Progress editions that ran this month. They are a bright and provocative bunch, and I’ve enjoyed talking with them and reading their essays.

But they are also very young. The other day I was speaking with a young man, who told me he was optimistic for our future if only the right candidate got elected in November.