While driving north on College Avenue on a recent Saturday, I spied the opposing armies as I approached Mulberry Street. On the right, the pro-war/pro-President Bush contingent waved American flags and signs reading “Support our troops.” On the left, the anti-war/anti-Bush contingent waved “Support our troops, bring ’em home” signs.
We are so divided right now. Take Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, for example. According to the editorial pages, she is either loved or loathed, seemingly with no viewpoints in between. The problem is that when the rhetoric becomes so vitriolic, substantive discussions toward real solutions get drowned out. With the midterm elections approaching, there’s no time for ranting at each other from opposite sides of College Avenue. We desperately need real progress.
For voters on both sides of the street, I have a suggestion. Forget left vs. right, liberal vs. conservative, “tax and spend” vs. “tax cut so the rich can spend.” Evaluate each candidate and ballot proposal in a new way: now vs. then, short-term vs. long-term, your life vs. your kids’ lives.
Far too much attention today is being spent on short-term, ineffective measures to alleviate short-term pain to curry voter favor. Reject such nonsense. Our country faces very real challenges that require vision. And here’s the bonus: When you take a long-term perspective, you’ll find that the traditional divisions between left and right often fall by the wayside. Five examples …
(1) National debt. No political party owns this issue. Since 1990, the U.S. debt has more than doubled, now topping $7 trillion. We are borrowing and spending ourselves into national bankruptcy. Democrat or Republican, your kids will inherit a backbreaking problem. We need leaders with solutions for this dilemma.
(2) Health and health care. In the past 10 years, obesity rates are up 60 percent among adults, with diabetes rates tracking closely behind. This is an epidemic, both tragic and extremely expensive. Bad: $1.9 trillion spent on health care in 2004. Far worse: The cost will grow 50 percent in just five years. Yet 46 million Americans are uninsured. Which Republican or Democrat can see that this is unsustainable and has the vision to change things?
(3) Global warming. Even the White House has acknowledged the existence of climate change. It’s real. A consensus of scientists warns of rising sea levels, disrupted agriculture, weather extremes and increased range of tropical diseases. The kids of both liberals and conservatives will suffer the consequences. Which candidate has a vision for reducing greenhouse gases resulting from the burning of fossil fuels? And closely related …
(4) Oil dependency. We imported only 28 percent of our oil in 1972. Today, it’s 55 percent and rising. But solutions exist. Average U.S. miles per gallon: 25. Average in Europe: 42. Japan: 47. This isn’t rocket science. Oil gluttony hurts economically and environmentally, plus our dependence upon Middle East oil threatens our security. Choose leaders with the vision to fix this problem.
(5) Corrupt government. No political party is immune from lobbyist dollars. Excessive corporate campaign financing undermines visionary thinking. Lobbyists with short-term agendas backed by immediate corporate dollars always trump long-term priorities that might not deliver benefits for years. Elect people with the courage to rein in corrupting influences.
Meanwhile, reject candidates backing frivolous short-term measures such as $100 one-time rebates to soften the blow of high gas prices, constitutional amendments to ban flag desecration, rules that the National Anthem only be sung in English and any other cynical nod to one constituency or another. These are just shallow political tactics and distractions from real priorities.
Hey, voters, follow these simple steps for a brighter future. Your kids will thank you.
