Arnold, CA…Most of you are familiar with the 80/20 rule in economics espoused by Vilfredo Pareto. What is profound is that in the decades since his death it has been found that the 80/20 rule to be accurate in almost all areas. Take any subject even the taboo ones such as abortion, race & social issues it is an almost statistical certainty that 80% of us will agree on what good policy looks like.

The real problems now as in the past is that in politics you can’t get power for a party unless they can tell you there is a crisis so dear that your world will cease to exist unless you open your wallet and give them money, time and vote the party line in the next election.

That is why when the majority of us left or right look at national news, events and more it just feels off, waaay off. The 80% have been told that we must believe, act and contribute by rules the hard left 10% & hard right 10% have imposed.

If you are on the right remember your left leaning neighbor doesn’t secretly want to blow up Mount Rushmore. If you are on the Left remember your right leaning neighbor doesn’t want healthcare for women to be a coat hanger.

The parties and politicians have to divide us and stoke our fears otherwise we could largely ignore them, trust in the basic goodness or our neighbors and get on with our lives.