The media, Democrats, and Republications have taken these recent mass shootings as an opportunity to coerce the public into adopting their opinions for the next voting cycle. Republicans blame gaming and mental health issues, and Democrats blame gun laws. The biggest travesty is that the media toggles to and fro whoring for readers when truth and introspection are needed more now than ever. 

The truth is more complicated because those creating this havoc reflect America’s disenfranchised and disconnected youth. Most of us are aware that mental illness comes into play but do we want to forget the critical points necessary to resolve this problem by neglecting technological advances in warfare that are now in the hands of our youth?

The fact is EVERYONE is right, and EVERYONE is wrong. There are valid points on both sides of the aisle that must MARRY to resolve these issues. The most challenging thing for all of us to face is the fact that this is a problematic sociological time. And social problems run deep. Which means they won’t go away with one solution. These mentally ill people will build bombs if you take away the guns. Get it?

Youth feel as if there is no upward mobility and stability. Immigration appears to be uncontrolled and happening at an exponential rate. And, it’s difficult for many people to accept these noticeable demographic changes. Combined with Hollywood’s marketing wheel, gender selection options, and Silicon Valley’s latest games, we are confusing the youth of this country. And it’s happening at a time in their lives when stability and consistency are critical to their development.

For young adults, Technology jobs are only accessible to a percentage of society capable of the specific type of thinking necessary to succeed. The lack of meaningful employment must be challenging to face for some of these young adults. It must feel like a dead end, and Silicon Valley and Venture Capitalism are inadvertently encouraging all of it. How? By presenting themes like “The next great leap to the future is this game, and it’s yours for $89.99, be a part of it.” Many of the people they LOVE, in their own families, are vulnerable to influences too.

So, it’s We The PEOPLE that need to get a hold of ourselves and start asking the critical questions.  

1. Is it acceptable to have any number of people unemployed?
2. Is it acceptable to have a 21-year-old working in a dead-end job with no hope or vocational training opportunities?
3. Is it possible that we have become mentally ill as a society?  
4. Some video games teach tactical awareness and military readiness. Is this something that requires regulation? ( I don’t have an answer, I am just asking.)
5. When these kinds of tragedies happen, are we manipulated by Washington, the media, or Hollywood in an opportunistic fashion that makes it challenging to come to a reasonable conclusion?
6. Are we all so dead set on sticking with political affiliations that we cannot admit that our opinions may be wrong or require tweaking?  

Lastly, I think we should all try to understand that we cannot have:

* Open borders  AND Free health care and education

* Gun removal AND safety in the wilderness in this vast and rural country (If there is a mountain lion, I want a gun, hon!)

* A clean environment AND exponentially MILLIONS more people in the coming years

*Free visa’s for everyone around the globe who wants one AND have all American citizens employed

*Electoral college removal AND equality between population-dense States that require resources from less population-dense States. E.g., Colorado supplies water to California. The electoral college affords them a more significant say in what happens to their natural and other resources. Each State only agreed to join with these conditions in place. Remember this from history class? In no way should we all back out of this agreement.

*Free trade with those who would wish for our demise AND safety (only trade with countries we trust and call friends)

So We, The People, need to keep our eye on the ball. As an Independent voter, it seems everyone wants it all or nothing, and I’m getting sick and tired of the selfishness on both sides. Collectively, we have to decide what is important to us. Or have we become so diverse that we can no longer do that? I think it’s a valid question. A scary one, but compelling nonetheless. 

It is a trying time. But, we will prevail as long as we question our politics, media, Hollywood, and corporations. These are all collectives of humans. And when we get into groups, we all know how ridiculous we tend to become.