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Tuesday, 21 November 2006 14:56 |
| | Bill Walz |
The morning after the mid-term elections that swept Republicans out of control of Congress, this progressive Democrat listened to post-election reporting on NPR with hope for the first time in many years. Winning Democratic candidates declared that the voters had spoken and they had declared it was change they sought in Washington. Wonderful.
The elected spoke about the War in Iraq, health care, accountability in Washington, a fair shake for working people and the poor. Wonderful. The new speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, declared the election a call for "a new direction in America." Wonderful. We desperately need a new direction. Borrowing a phrase from progressive AM radio talk shows, "Operation take back America" can kick into high gear. The question is, will it?
We
here in Western North Carolina elected a conservative Democrat, Heath
Shuler, to Congress, finally ridding ourselves of Charles Taylor.
I, along with
other progressives, arenët particularly happy with several of Shulerës
social issue positions, but we can be delighted at his pro-environment,
affordable health-care, pro-working class stances. I have no beef with
our electing Shuler. Any candidate to the left of him probably wouldnët
have been elected in the generally conservative 11th District. We now
have a representative that progressives can work with, and I urge, let
us work with him. Make sure he knows what the progressives in this
district stand for, but donët box him into any corners or undermine him.
Now is the time.
Progressives have to seize this opportunity. This election was only the
opening act to the big show two years from now when Democrats will be
measured as to how they did wielding power and creating policy,
Congress is again up for grabs, and a president is selected. We have to
be active and smart. We must insist that the new Democratic Congress be
the instrument for needed change without stepping over the bounds of
what middle-America is ready for into territory the majority of
Americans will not embrace.
Now is the time
to contact Heath Shuler and the leaders of the Democratic Party to let
them know we are with them, and that we are watching them and what we
expect of them. We must let them know that we expect and demand that
they do what is needed to begin reforming Washington and the electoral
process. We expect them to get us out of Iraq, but in a responsible
manner that enhances Americaës standing in the World and begins
bringing wisdom to the issue of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. We
expect them to increase the minimum wage to a living wage, to
strengthen the middle-class, and to protect Social Security and
pensions. We expect them to begin the complicated remedy of the
disastrous American health care system, to open access to every
American, and to protect citizens and businesses from being bankrupted
to feed the bloated health care and insurance industries. We expect
them to begin developing wise policies for transitioning America into a
world leader in green technology and policy.
Many
progressives, in their Green sentiments, are gardeners. They know that
the soil must be prepared carefully if good crops are to grow. Throwing
seed on barren ground accomplishes nothing. Let us keep that wisdom
always in mind. On social values issues like abortion-rights and gay
marriage, let us be smart. Let these issues be fought in the arena of
pubic education not the ballot box or legislatures. Only when the
majority of Americans are ready to embrace a social values issue can
politicians successfully embrace it without incurring backlash.
I call to
progressives to be active, be smart, and be involved. With positive
politics, we will take back America. Apathy or confrontational politics
will squander this opportunity. The pendulum has swung. Seize the day,
progressives, but with wisdom, patience and persistence. Nowës the time
to show what patriots we are. America and the world need us.
ï
Bill Walz is a
UNC Asheville adjunct faculty member and a private practice teacher of
mindfulness, personal growth and consciousness. Contact at
bill.walz-at-worldnet.att.net or (828)258-3241.
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