SOTD: Various Artists - "YES WE CAN"
As any civic minded American knows, tonight our President gave his annual State of the Union address. By and large, I believe it was a great success. The president delivered plans that give hope to restoring the American dream I grew up chasing. There were a couple of things that really struck me while watching the address in real time, and a few others that I noticed while listening to the rebuttals that followed.
The emphasis that President Obama put on making Education a priority across the country was one of the highlights of the night for me:
"That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It's family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair; that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.
Our schools share this responsibility. When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don't meet this test. That's why instead of just pouring money into a system that's not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all fifty states, we said, "If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we'll show you the money."
Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning. These standards were developed, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country. And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what's best for our kids."
It's no secret that 'No Child Left Behind' was a colossal failure, but until tonight, I don't think I've really heard anyone present an alternative. I also appreciated that he noted it will be up to the states, lead by their Governors, to turn things around and really start raising toward the top. He stated a wanted increase in teachers of the core subjects by a number of 100,000 in the next 4 years. The attention given to what I consider to be an education crisis, was very needed and greatly appreciated. My belief has long been that far too few people are properly educated and what's worse, their aren't enough people who seem to care. I've watched people fall through the cracks in both public schools and in the home school environment. The country is long overdue a complete system overhaul on education as a whole.
The second proposal that really got my attention elicited very little fan fare from within the halls of Congress:
"At the California Institute of Technology, they're developing a way to turn sunlight and water into fuel for our cars. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they're using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities. With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.
We need to get behind this innovation. And to help pay for it, I'm asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies. I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own. So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's."
I always love a hometown shout out, or in this case, close to home, but even more, here is a proposed plan to help with the budgeting of clean energy, and I predict because so many politicians have big oil in their back pocket, it will not happen without a big fight. And it's a shame, really, because the truth is, of all the big business types, oil really is the one that doesn't need any help from the government to turn a profit. Of the many proposals and ideas expressed tonight I would most love to see this one succeed.
Perhaps it was ideas and beliefs like the one I just expressed that contributed to my being laid-off just days before President Obama took office. In any case, the unemployment rate was practically queen of the prom tonight, everyone wanted to get on camera with her. In the post address responses from the Republican party and Tea Party Express (oh, the joy, I'll get to that in a minute), most of the criticism hinged on three things, big government, the deficit and jobs. I take offense when the right uses unemployment as an argument that Obama isn't doing a good enough job; I do so, because in some ways I feel had it not been for my support of President Obama during his campaign I might not be one of those among the unemployed for the last two years. Worse yet, I fear, if it happened to me, what's to say it didn't happen to others. We all know the president walked into a burning room and I strongly believe he's done everything in his power to not only put out the fire, but reconstruct the remains. It's not complete, but we're closer now than we were two years ago and I believe we are on the right track. But there was one point that even I had failed to realize until tonight and it came from this part of the speech:
"The steps we've taken over the last two years may have broken the back of this recession – but to win the future, we'll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making.
Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didn't always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are you'd have a job for life, with a decent paycheck, good benefits, and the occasional promotion. Maybe you'd even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company.
That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. I've seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts of once busy Main Streets. I've heard it in the frustrations of Americans who've seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear – proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game."
I am only 30 years old, but I grew up in a family of workers who had one job that was good and when they were old enough they left that job with a pension and retired from places like B.F. Goodwrench and regional hospitals. I grew up believing if you found a job you loved and did it well enough to get paid you should stay with it. The sad truth that President Obama explained tonight is that it's time to wake up, we don't live in that world anymore. The game has changed and if we want to succeed we have to approach our careers with an eye toward the global market and the new technologies. It doesn't have to be an uphill battle, but we must stop pinning for the days of bonded employment; those days are gone.
And now to address the division of ideology. After the speech tonight, I logged on to Facebook. A friend had posted the following comment: "just sat through the most boring State of the Union...ever. Speaker Boehner's tie was the star of that show." I can't say I'm surprised that this particular friend posted this, except, I have always respected her strong Republican beliefs because I thought her to be well informed and the type of person who reaches her political opinions by rationally evaluating the information she is presented with. It appears that I've misjudged the situation. Regardless of party lines, the speech given tonight was anything but boring, especially for a couple of political junkies like us! It saddens me to see that even my own friends are incapable of looking at the current state of our union objectively.
By now it's clear which side of the aisle I can be found, but at least I know how I got there.
First for the Republican party. We disagree on policy for a reason; you are steadfast in your beliefs and I in mine. What I don't understand is how your war cry is for less government, yet no one has a solid proposal of how to remove government efficiently and effectively. I understand this is a core belief for you, but what exactly is it that the government controls that you feel would best serve the people if it didn't exist? I'm serious, I would really like to know. Because you see, I don't think the removal of government's role in the lives of Americans would actually be beneficial.
I heard Rep. Ryan express the following:
"So I’d like to share with you the principles that guide us. They are anchored in the wisdom of the founders; in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence; and in the words of the American Constitution.
They have to do with the importance of limited government; and with the blessing of self-government."
*****
"We believe government’s role is both vital and limited – to defend the nation from attack and provide for the common defense … to secure our borders… to protect innocent life… to uphold our laws and Constitutional rights … to ensure domestic tranquility and equal opportunity … and to help provide a safety net for those who cannot provide for themselves.
We believe that the government has an important role to create the conditions that promote entrepreneurship, upward mobility, and individual responsibility.
We believe, as our founders did, that “the pursuit of happiness” depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government."
The particular suggestion that in the absence of government we should rely more on 'self-government' alarming. If there is one thing I am certain of, it is Americans are incapable of self control. Aside from the fact that only a small portion of the population even bothers to follow the issues, many of those who do are misinformed! To think that a country with nearly half a billion people is somehow capable of making wise decisions in place of government is like believing a teenager can be responsible with a credit card. It seems like a decent idea until the damage is done, and anyone who's maxed out a credit card, and there's more of those people than people who follow the issues, will tell you, once you've exceeded your limit, if you don't have the resources to undo the damage, it can be crippling.
Additionally, I noted that one key point the right would like to stay involved with is decisions that I make in regards to the use of my uterus, or as it's referred to here, 'to protect innocent life'. Their are two key issues of the Republican party that I profoundly disagree with, abortion and gay rights. I am a proud Christian woman, but I understand what it means to separate Church and State. More than that, I understand why it is imperative that we do so. Not many people know this, but I was a congressional intern the summer after 9/11. One of the key pieces of legislation at that time was the partial-birth abortion ban. I was lucky enough to have the experience of doing research for this piece of legislation. For the record, I oppose partial-birth abortions. What I learned during my research is that abortions in the first trimester are more necessary for medical purposes than I could have ever imagined. Also, fewer people use abortions as a means of birth control than I had been told and those who do don't enter into that decision lightheartedly. Lastly, the allowance of such an option is far safer when regulated by the government than if it were to become illegal and people resorted to desperate measures to terminate dangerous or unwanted pregnancies.
The religious beliefs of those who are pro-life are not that different from my own. But I believe my God will judge me for my sins. This is tested again when it comes to gay rights. I can't figure out why anyone believes that because someone is gay they deserve anything less than I do. Why can't we all agree that all people deserve to be treated equally, fairly and with respect. I don't believe God would make someone gay just to have his followers go around mocking them. And yes, I believe you are born gay; why would anyone chose to be put down and belittled the way our society does.
But perhaps my biggest problem with the people on the other side of the aisle is that they just don't get it. They don't get that our nation is 200 years ahead of the founding fathers. They don't get that we've made advancements in the quality of life that require a more involved government leadership. They don't get how outdated portions of the existing Constitution really are - my goodness, parts still recognize slaves and women as lesser people. Republicans cling to their 2nd Amendment rights like each and every one is stocking up for the next invasion, but truth be told, had the founding fathers had any idea technology would allow us to create such easily accessible weapons of mass destruction, I highly doubt the second amendment would exist at all. But since it does, shall I propose those who so strongly believe in it should try carrying the arms that were protected when it was written. It would be much harder to commit such criminal acts using those arms today.
Now, take everything I just said and double it for the Tea Party!
From what I can tell the biggest difference between the Tea Party and the Republican party is that the Republicans are not blatantly racist. It's no coincidence that the Tea Party took shape just after Obama took office and if you don't believe me just look at some of their rally signs! It really makes me sick to watch as followers righteously proclaim patriotism while demonstrating the most unpatriotic speech and behavior. Additionally, according to the Tea Party, before Obama took office, we were doing well as a nation and all of our current economic and employment woes are laid squarely on President Obama. Even the Republican leadership has acknowledged this isn't true. Perhaps the greatest asset of the Tea Party is that it will be the Achilles heal of the Republican party during the 2012 elections. The Tea Party Express will have a place in history, but it will be for the role they played in the 2010 elections and shack up of Congress. I predict the Tea Party will be the Ross Perot of the next election; at best they'll accomplish splitting the vote and handing the house back over the Democrats.
You see, in 2008, we elected Barack Obama because he promised change. He gave us hope. He answered our call for a better America by acknowledging - Yes We Can. Now, two years later, the voters have spoken again. And again, it was for change. Unfortunately, the people leading us are more divided than ever. Which means we won't be getting change, in fact, it will be surprising if anything gets done at all.
THIS MUST END!
If we are going to make progress we've got to stop acting like children and make the tough decisions and confront challenges head on. Special interests have to go. Politicians need to stop worrying about winning the next election and start working on earning the right to be there in the first place. It is a privileged to serve the public in this capacity and it would do the entire body of congress a world of good if they realized that and treated the office with humility and respect.
John Legend says it best - "If You're Out There"
If you hear this message
Wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman
Calling ever man
We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday
And we're already late
We've been looking for a song to sing
Searched for a melody
Searched for someone to lead
We've been looking for the world to change
If you feel the same, well go on and say
If you're out there
Sing along with me if you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud if you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now...now...now
No more broken promises
No more call to war
Unless it's Love and Peace that
We're really fighting for
We can destroy Hunger
We can conquer Hate
Put down the arms and raise your voice
We're joining hands today
I was looking for a song to sing
Searched for a leader
But the leader was me
We were looking for the world to change
We can be heroes
Just go on and say
If you're out there
Sing along with me if you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud if you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now...now...now
Whoa now...now...now
If you ready we can save the world
Believe again, start to mend
We don't have to wait for destiny
We should be the change that we want to see
If you're out there
If you're out there
And you're ready now
Sing it loud, scream it out
If you're out there
Sing along with me if you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud if you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now
If you're out there
If you're out there
If you're out there
If you hear this message
Wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman
Calling ever man
We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday
And we're already late
1 comment:
I agree!
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