MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

I can't help but notice how much the extreme political Left and extreme political Right have in common.

Right now, they both are of the mind that Russia didn't help Trump get elected. Conservatives and Trump supporters see this as a way to undermine his presidency, while liberals and Third Party supporters see this as a weak apology and blind rationale for Hillary losing.

See the common thread? "HILLARY BAD". Then one of the sides invariably posts that stupid meme of the clueless dog sitting in a burning house. But what's notably missing from the meme is a mirror on the wall.

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Living in Indianapolis, where the Colts logo is everywhere, it's funny how I haven't thought of Horseshoe Theory as a way to explain this bizarre phenomenon until now.

Horseshoe Theory basically states that, rather than a linear spectrum with Left and Right stretching away from each other in opposite directions, a more accurate representation of modern political thought would be a horseshoe: both ends in close proximity to each other, while the middle is the spot furthest removed.

At the ends of the 2016 horseshoe model is hatred for Hillary, as well as a willingness to embrace phony-baloney conspiracy sites and anti-corporate nonsense.

The main flaw with Horseshoe Theory is that it fails to include complex belief compatibility. Indeed, I'm a good example of that complexity: I'm a left-wing liberal who distrusts the state and stresses individuality; a religious skeptic who goes to church and believes in God; an anarchist who has faith in local government. Most people would just call me a hypocrite, and they do. It doesn't bother me, but it sure as hell bothers them when I do the same to them.

Having friends and family on  both ends of the linear political spectrum (a construct that is difficult to leave behind, even if the horseshoe model seems attractive) leaves me in an odd position at all times. I receive criticism and flak from both sides because I am not toeing their line, so to speak. Usually, this is a sign that I am doing things right, but lately the proliferation of this horseshoe logic on social media has been exhausting. I don't have the energy or time to blast my so-called leftie friends who are this close to becoming Hitler Youth whenever Hillary is mentioned, nor do I have the masochistic tendencies to listen to racist, elitist claptrap disguised as Libertarianism, and I've never found it harder to tolerate GOP propaganda and bald Trumpism (for there is no other word to describe it, is there?) than now.

No one will honestly reflect upon their biases and personal cognitive dissonances. My only haven of hope is in the political beasts whose lifelong consistency to issues that matter to them (namely, the environment and the economy) makes for rational, idea-driven discourse. No name-calling or paranoid ranting here-- it's pure policy, solutions only. I've know these people since grade school, and what is remarkable is how they evolve and adapt without turning their coats or abandoning their principles. My hats off to them, for they are keeping me sane.

As for the rest of you, do yourselves a favor and look up Horseshoe Theory. I promise you, it will either amuse you or disturb you. But it will go a long way to explaining why you are no different than your supposed "enemy" on the other side of the fence.