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Dear Editor:
In a recent letter to the editor, a Chronicle reader was trying to figure out why so many people in Iowa County voted for President-Elect Joe Biden. Of course, Biden voters are wondering exactly the same thing about how people could possibly have voted the other way.
The letter writer mentioned a whole list of "talking points" that the President and his supporters have repeated many, many, many times. Biden supporters would have little problem answering every one of these to explain why they voted for Biden.
But I don't think that was the question the letter writer was actually asking. He wants to know, as I do, how people who live right here in Iowa County can think so differently.
I'd like to start the conversation by talking about compromise. Like many Biden supporters, I think coming together to find a middle ground is the absolute core of democracy or as Biden often says "the soul of America." It seems to me supporters of the President think compromise is a dirty word. Is this true?
Here's another key difference. I am deeply disturbed by all the scary conspiracy theories that dominate conservative talk radio and social media--that creeping Communism is taking over the world, that cannibalistic politicians are eating children. The Republicans spent millions and millions of dollars painting all of their opponents as flaming revolutionaries, socialists, communists - which is dangerous and untrue.
If the letter writer wants to know why I didn't vote for President Trump, above are two of many reasons. The sooner each of us starts thinking for ourselves and rejects such inflammatory talk, the better off we will all be. And the more secure the future of our country will be.
Let's keep the conversation going.
Shirley Barnes
Dodgeville