Monday, December 17, 2012

That hopeless feeling. In view of the violence of the pass few months and beyond we sit back and our gut tells us something must be done. But what, how? As a progressive and a liberal we understand government is our friend, a place we should be able to expect to come provide solutions to public needs. The advancement of the common good, the protector not just of the last resort, but also the leader of necessity to provide what as individuals we cannot manage alone. A common defense of our country, a better system of welfare and social programs, enhancement of an economy to share opportunity for all of our citizens. Government to bundle the resources of our people for environmental protection, eliminate poverty, leadership to guarantee education, health and promote the general welfare of each of us. Greed that has led to anti-regulatory, misguided selfish exploitation of our natural resources with devastating effects on future generations. The attitude that 'I got mine and I am not sharing', 'I did it, now find your own way.' How do we speak out, stay in the game, renew our determination and not throw in the towel and hide from those with temporary power and financial resources to buy more power and move to limit our freedom. Where do we start? So much is spent by deep pocket special interests to promote political squabbling, public mistrust and confusion rather than work toward setting a course of providing for the general welfare of the country, we throw up our hands and never begin to solve even the smallest public policies. We find a large number of us demoralized, feeling down and sometimes even guilty that we have needs such as finding a good job, better education, training for the new world of technology, providing for our health or retirements just looking after our children. We see some receiving government subsidies, special considerations in conducting their businesses, tax benefits or even government rebates and inducements not available to many of us. What values do we as a people hold? Where are the messengers for us as a people? Is the election process rigged against us? Who are these forces cutting off our right to vote, limiting the voting process? In simple words, taking yet another right guaranteed by our Constitution away from us or at least putting it beyond our reach. Government moved us away from a system of "poor houses" for our poor and elderly, established a system of Social Security, provided a "safety net" for our disabled and temporary desperate economic conditions. Government was to be a force in time of natural disasters, government declared voters rights were to be equally shared, it was the role of government to protect and provide for a justice system to benefit each citizen. We are a challenged people and rather than "cutback and retreat" let's decide to move forward, stimulate our thinking, build for all not just a few. It is our responsibility in the progressive, liberal American movement to resist any divisive assaults coming from the extreme selfish privately financed right-wing bigots. I am proud to be called a progressive, a liberal or even a thinking political activist.