³ÉÈËXÕ¾

DAVE ROSS

Ross: Pulling our country back from the brink of paralyzed politics

Sep 1, 2020, 6:17 AM | Updated: Sep 2, 2020, 7:01 am

Portland protests...

Protesters and anti-protesters arguing in Portland. (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

It started with protests against police violence by people who felt unsafe in their own neighborhoods. The protests became daily protests. And nightly protests. They weren’t intended to be violent – just the opposite.

But violent people started getting involved, sometimes using the protests as cover.

That brought a reaction from the other side. From people who claimed that now they didn’t feel safe because of the protests.

Fast forward to Portland last weekend – anti-protest protesters in pickup trucks start . And then , and suddenly there’s body in the street.

Every day, a little closer to the edge.

Every day the national debate moves farther away from peace and justice and more toward tit for tat. There are people who want the fight. They see a political system that’s paralyzed. And so they will take it to the streets.

So how about this: Before it gets to the point of pickup trucks with real guns, and pictures of martyrs posted on burned-out buildings, how about if the people who have paralyzed our politics just make one more effort to un-paralyze themselves and pull the country back from the brink?

American democracy was supposed to be the vaccine for this. If it’s not – I’m sure Russia and China are ready to sell us theirs.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

Image: From left, Chris Sullivan, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien stand together in the ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradi...

MyNorthwest Staff

Dave and Colleen’s final ‘SMN:’ ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ colleagues, politicians say their goodbyes

"Seattle's Morning News" on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio will soon have a new sound. On Thursday, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien will host their last show together after a decade of co-hosting.

7 months ago

Classical literature on bookshelves. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross as you’ve never heard him before: ‘I like fat books and I can’t deny’

"This song, inspired by one of my first interviews when I started my talk show, which was Sir Mix-A-Lot," Dave Ross said.

7 months ago

national debt...

Dave Ross

‘Don’t cut a cent:’ Dave Ross on why the national debt never gets under control

The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, and every president says it has to be under control. And yet, it never is.

7 months ago

voters hormone...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters weren’t just voting for change, they were voting for a hormone

The more I read the post-election analysis, the more I’m convinced voters weren’t just voting for a change – they were voting for a hormone.

8 months ago

ross o'brien - Seattle's Morning News...

Frank Sumrall

Dave Ross, Colleen O’Brien departing after co-hosting ‘Seattle’s Morning News’ for a decade

Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien, the co-hosts of "Seattle's Morning News" on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio are both leaving the show.

8 months ago

election day...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross: Election Day and Decision Day are two separate things

Tomorrow is Election Day – that’s what the calendar says. But there are two problems with the term "Election Day."

8 months ago

Ross: Pulling our country back from the brink of paralyzed politics