Amazing map.

I've been thinking a lot about the poeple I just didn't talk to before this election, a kind of writing off of folks, telling myself it was in the name of maintaining friendships or some such b--t, but really it was my unwillingness to take the time, to really sort things through. There are folks I plan to check in with now. The questions I keep asking myself are:

Why did the issues of abortion and gay marriage rise to the top? Are they really the most important ones out there, or are they just good polarizers?

Can we bring the discussion of marriage back to the civil, rather than the religious?

Can we talk about ways to decrease abortion that are positive (self esteem building in teens, honest discussion about peer pressure and sex,) while still leaving the safe legal option in place, cause abortion will happen, and when it's illegal it gets pretty bad.

Who's decided to link intelligence with arrogance and thus negate folks who are well educated as influential amongst a large segment of the population?

Can we start talking to people as people, friends, family members, not as us/them?

Can we simply defeat the money, rather than fighting that issue, cause with the folks currently in power, that's not going to change?

Anyway, I've had a troubled few days and it's beginning to come clear for me. Interesting times indeeed.