January 29, 2009 by Jeanie Kirk
Not a single Republican voted for the economic stimulus package yesterday. Due to the Democratic majority in the House, the bill did pass. While the ultimate good is that the plan passed, I'm disheartened by the partisan voting record. MoveOn.org sums up my sentiments well: "Americans voted overwhelmingly for change in November. We voted for an end to the partisan bickering and political games that are destroying our politics. And President Obama bent over backwards to get House Representatives to craft a bipartisan bill, to no avail."
Our new president is not a panacea, obviously. And it's not only the economy that needs bipartisan healing. Al Gore + Repower America are focusing on clean electricity, animal rights activists are still trying to save Gray Wolves, and human rights groups are working to overturn Prop 8. I can identify with the needs in each campaign area, and this multi-issue identification easily leaves me feeling overwhelmed. If our representatives in Washington can't agree that we need to get to work pronto on economic restructuring, with everyone's best interest in mind, how will we work collectively on 'special interests' ?
I think it comes down to sympathy, empathy, and information, but even moreso: courage. Courage to speak out when you're in a group, to let your sympathy, empathy and information empower you to do more than fill out a form and click the 'sign the petition' button. I know I need to do more than what I'm doing. Phone calls are a first step. Real discussion, maybe even with people you don't know, is another one.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com?v=665Qcnp3i6c[/youtube]
"It's about you, real ordinary people, crossing the borders, crossing those boundaries, building those bridges...it's real. That's how it works...It requires that kind of courage." Cleve Jones
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