Asking Nothing
We’ve heard for a long time about the refusal of Republicans to ask Americans to sacrifice anything for the Iraq War.
It is clear that only soldiers and their families—plus the contractors who die “off the books“— are being asked to contribute to our “war effort.”
On the other side however, we could ask when will Democrats ask Americans to conserve energy and scale back in this time of rising fuel prices?
We are living unsustainable lifestyles. Other nations are having big problems with food prices because of our demand for ethanol.
The simple argument would be that the parties are afraid to risk votes by asking anything of the people.
I wonder if our leaders don’t care what people are doing because they don’t see any viable middle class future for our nation. Let the people do as they want as power and wealth gravitates to the few.
The refusal of either party to ask anything for any sacrifice is as large an insult as can be imagined. It conveys the people have nothing of value to offer except reflexive patriotism and tax dollars.
This is where I think Obama will have success if elected. I think if he actually stated that we are in trouble and we need to pull together that people will listen to him. Like when JFK made his famous speech. There is a huge youthful following for Obama and if he asked people to get involved in something other than just go shopping people will follow. I don’t see people following McCain if he asked and if Hillary had won i didn’t see it with her either. But the way Obama speaks clearly and truthfully people will believe him. There will of course be people who don’t but I truely believe he has the power to get people involved
Margaret—I sure hope you are right because it seems some days that time is running out for us on global climate change and finding a viable economic path for our people in the global economy. I do think, as you say, that people are looking at Obama with hope.
We’ll see how it all turns out. I can’t say I’ve ever seem much in politics to be hopeful about. Maybe this is such a time.