Striving for better America important
(Last updated: 11/10/08 7:59pm)Last week, Americans went to the polls to inform their government that they want to see a change. President-elect Obama has received a powerful signal from the American people. We have shown clearly that we are unhappy with the direction this country has been headed during the past decade, but I am concerned we have not been clear as to the path we would hope to be on. So, why are we unhappy? And, most importantly, what will we demand from Obama in his first term? What kind of change, exactly, are we seeking?
Shane Dicks
We are unhappy that we remain caught in a tragic occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan in which thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed. Billions of dollars have been spent on these conflicts, burned up in the desert, wastefully handed out in no-bid contracts to American war profiteers and mercenaries. These conflicts, and the foreign policy theory behind them, are literally and figuratively bleeding this country to death.
A move into Afghanistan is hardly an improvement. No foreign military power in history has successfully occupied those mountains. We must demand a new direction. Isn’t it time for an investment in the infrastructure of peace and prosperity over the machinery of destruction and death? Surely we can be out of Iraq in 16 months as promised, unless corporate profiteers force us to stay. It will be our task to remind them war profiteering was once considered treason. If the Democrats put American troops in harms way in Afghanistan, or if they don’t take us out of Iraq, then we will be forced to take them out of Washington, and we must be prepared to do so.
We are unhappy because corporate power has grown stronger while critical infrastructure crumbles, our education system decays, millions of Americans go without health care and our protection under law is reduced. Protection of our rights from corporate abuse in legislation such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Freedom of Information Act and a number of other truly progressive pieces of legislation have been all but ignored. Corporations have been given free rein to abuse labor and the environment and to seek wealth at any cost without oversight and fear of retribution.
It is important that companies in America be free to seek profits — indeed, that is the American way. But most Americans certainly believe this freedom cannot come at the expense of a citizen’s rights to health and happiness.
When we allow the provision of public security, health, education and infrastructure to be handled by profit-seeking corporations, we can expect that profits will be found, but we can’t guarantee that high quality public goods will be provided. Are you willing to settle for bargain basement in order to see higher third-quarter profits for your favorite multinational corporation?
The interests of American corporations should always take a backseat to the interests of individual Americans. Obama has promised a new day, the expansion of the health care system and reinvigoration of the education system with no new taxes on 95 percent of Americans. Don’t listen to the doubters — this is absolutely possible. It is simply a question of organization and political will. We must keep our end of the deal and stand behind him as we set out on this historic task, but we must be ready and willing to throw him and his Congress out if they lose their nerve.
Can it be considered unreasonable to ask the most powerful country on the earth, a country that belongs wholly to its citizens, to guarantee all of its citizens a real opportunity to succeed? Can the country that overcame fascism, reached the moon, guaranteed civil rights and outlasted the Soviets, really be excused for its failure to provide its citizens with education, health care and legal protection of rights appropriate for its status as a world leader?
I understand that politics is a difficult business, and there will be challenges and setbacks, but we should not settle. We can no longer afford to let our leaders get by on broken promises and half-truths. We must demand action and hold our elected leaders accountable for their decisions.
It’s time for American government to be made responsible to the people it represents, but this can only happen if we choose to take responsibility for our government.
Shane Dicks is a State News columnist and an international relations senior. Reach him at shane.dicks1@gmail.com.
Originally Published: 11/10/08 7:05pm
Mike
11/10/08 9:19pmSO you basically want us to surrender in the war on terror. Why don’t we just turn America over to Bin Laden and get it over with…dumbass.
Jason Van Dyke
11/10/08 9:46pmThis gentleman apparently believes that, in order for America to be great, it must become just as socialist and degenerate as the rest of the world. I agree with him on bringing out troops home, but this guy clearly needs to learn that in the real world corporations don’t pay any taxes or penalties: consumers do.
Eric
11/10/08 10:11pmSpeaking as an outsider (Ron Paul supporter), you guys lost the election because you professed contempt for the people whose votes you needed. Better wise up or you will lose in 2010 and 2012 as well.
Eric
11/10/08 10:20pmI should have said: “you professed contempt for people whose votes you needed” rather than “you professed contempt for the people whose votes you needed.” Obviously, some people deserve contempt. But the Republican tent wasn’t big enough this time. The Lee Atwater approach has backfired, and many now feel the invective is directed at them personally—or are just uncomfortable with the us versus them dichotomy. It is time to return to emphasizing ideas, as Reagan did, rather than attacking the opponent personally.
Get a F*cking calculator
11/11/08 6:59am“The interests of American corporations should always take a backseat to the interests of individual Americans. Obama has promised ..”
Psst! He BS’d you. It’s never going to happen.
He’s proposed weird s***, those involved will litigate for the next 20 years. He is going to FAIL, just like FDR’s New Deal was, just before Hitler attacked Poland and WWII destroyed our economic competitors Japan and Germany.
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Dan
11/11/08 7:27amThis whining is incessant and obnoxious!
The left has their man elected, yet they still whine. Is it because they know nothing else but to wail? Liberalism is all about complaining about the injustices of the world, but their solutions are nowhere to be seen.
Maybe they still whine because not enough black babies have been aborted to their preference!
Ronnie
11/11/08 7:51amShane,
You are just another liberal writing the same sad song in the same sad newspaper. Can you please have an original thought? Corporations that employ millions upon millions of people and produce everything your mommy and daddy buy for you are evil profiteers? Why don’t you skip a few Young Socialists for Freedom meetings and go out into the real world and live in reality?
This is just another useless liberal living in la-la land who will be unemployed in six months after graduating with a useless international relations degree. I am sure he will then live off his mommy and daddy who work for one of those “evil” corporations.
Idiot.
Eric
11/11/08 8:02amI should have known better than to go back and take a look. Four letter words are not an effective substitute for penetrating thought and carefully reasoned arguments. Whoever “Get a F*cking calculator” is, he should realize that he and people who talk like him had a significant hand in the Republican defeat.
Mark
11/11/08 8:46amPresident-elect Obama has received a powerful signal from the American people.
Make that a powerful signal from 53% of the people.
bbwhine
11/11/08 9:08amMark: Add to that McCains 47% and it appears most voters want a new direction. Remember McCain ran on Change as well. Now that all the talking and promises are over let’s see what can actually be done.
Infidel
11/11/08 12:16pmInstead of blabbing about Shane DICKS borderline retarded observations, I think some thank you’s are due.
Today is Veterans day. So if you see an Airman, Sailor, Soldier or Marine this fine day pay a little respect and say thank you. It’s fairly simple.
EG
11/11/08 12:54pmNovember 11th is Armistice Day. If I see any WWI veterans I will be sure to thank them.
There should be a seperate “Veterans Day”.
Mark
11/11/08 1:03pmbbwhine,
So there was not a candidate on the ballot that does not represent change? The greens and the libertarians are the anti-change groups?
Pick a winner:
A) Change
B) Change
C) Change
Hey look everyone voted for change!
But wait about 46% of voting age people did not vote… are those votes for the status quo?
bbwhine
11/11/08 2:11pmMark: I didn’t include the other parties because at this point in history they represent virtually less then 10% (if that) of the populations choice. Yes, they are for change too. The folks who don’t vote can eat it, I don’t care what they think one way or the other.
LansingTrucker
11/16/08 10:15pmAll you Liberals who voted for Obama, who believe he will fix the US are so wrong. He has No Exeperience at all, He was in washington DC for only 144 DAYS, before he decided to run for President. No Leadership and he talked about taking the wheel and hitting the Gas and headed stright for the Ditch. He and his supporters believe he can do anything he wants are so WRONG no super Party rule yet Democrats and Liberals you still need the other party which you hate. Obama has a long long long way to become my President, something Clinton and Carter never did.