Professor J,Here's a little piece of political porn I made for you. We need a laugh, don't we? I can't decide, most days when I see the news, if I'm more sick or scared...always a little sad it seems.
It's a fantasy, but why don't we see a Libertarian/Progressive alliance when they agree on the big 3 or 4 things (debt, wars, and investigating the Fed for example)? Whenever I see them in interviews together I think they would be great on the same ticket. Wouldn't this be the perfect time? It might be the LAST BEST time. Realistically, however with the conventions just around the corner, I know my dream team is unattainable. Still, a girl can dream can't she?
I'm surprised constantly how much people still react to the lies and innuendo from both sides. How much merit is attributed to a soundbite or a simple word or two, misspoken is absurd. My fantasy ticket would pull in people from the right and left. Let the "we'll say anything to get elected" politicians have their custom made suits, silk ties, and talking points. I'm ready for a couple of old, style-less, cranky men who can't be bought, aren't interested in getting invited to all the right cocktail parties, will give it to us straight, and refuse to sit down and be quiet while the country goes to hell.
Maybe my two cranky candidates could get folks to participate in ways that image/power driven professional politicians aren't capable of because they reek with phoniness. Of course we'd have to revise the debate process as well, wouldn't we? Remember what happened to poor Ralph Nader? (Memory refreshing video here) And in the Republican primaries, though they let Paul participate, there was nary a question for him and scant seconds to answer.
I know they disagree on much. Why do they have to agree on everything? What's wrong with running a campaign that says "Listen, we disagree on lots of things, but if we don't fix these major things those other things won't matter. We're sorry if your child is in a terrible school but we can't fix education and many other problems right now. We're going to be busy trying to save something of the country for your children and grandchildren. So we'll need your help." I think honesty would work wonders. Honesty in politics. There's an idea.
Then put out a call to action for people to volunteer in schools and neighborhoods, working together to take up the slack. Put social networking to work in communities to keep people informed of what needs to be done. People in small towns, big cities, and neighborhoods did amazing things during WWII when they felt the sacrifice was needed and the burden was being shared by all.
Couldn't we put a moratorium on any new legislation (maybe undo some) that doesn't specifically deal with the big 3 or 4 major problems, and let the states handle everything else? Couldn't we freeze spending at current levels for a period of time while we deal with the things that might actually pull us under?
I'm fantasizing, of course. But we see people turn out in droves to help fill sandbags when flooding is imminent and volunteer at soup kitchens during the holidays. The rest of the time they don't know HOW to help. What if they were told? I think lots of good people want to be part of a solution if they think their efforts will really make a difference. I think something that frustrates everyone is that so little is expected of us. What if we told the public and civic organizations, and the churches that the government had its hands full ferreting out waste and corruption, and needed everyone to pitch in? What if someone said "Look at what needs to be done in your neighborhood and find a way to do it." People are desperate for a vision of possibility.
Can't we revive Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you" concept? Or are we still not in enough pain to adapt for survival?
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