Boldly Moving Forward

Jon Huntsman is a Republican from Utah. He ran for the presidency earlier this year in the primaries. From my perspective he was probably the most moderate candidate among his fellow Republicans.  He said this for all to see and think about:

“Gone are the days when the Republican Party use to put forward big, bold visionary stuff.”

I echo that sentiment. Wholeheartedly. When I was an active Republican a few decades back, big ideas and sound policy development was the norm within the party. But then, even in the 1970’s and 1980’s the party lost its grip and slipped into conservative, evangelical Christian control. To retain his presidency, George H.W. Bush gave into the conservatives and evangelicals and I think lost the party in the process. He lost the presidency to Bill Clinton as well!

Jon Huntsman gets it. Too bad the rest of the party doesn’t. We all pay for this.

The big ideas so far are these coming from the republican party:

1. The incumbent President is at fault for everything that is wrong
2. Republican ticket offers no clear policies or action plans to right the ship of state
3. The republicans have stood in his way but are not part of the problem
4. Governance is not for, of and by the people; it is for, of and by the wealthiest few and corporations
5. Perpetual defense and warlike visage is our protection from the rest of the world
6. All citizens must do for themselves and stand free of all government
7. Government is the enemy; it can do no right

I think I covered it all. Contrast that with the details and inventory of work yet to be done that the Democrats have catalogued and continue to work on in spite of obstruction from republicans.

Respect for each other is just not present. Compromise relies on that quality. I guess there will be no compromise in the current situation to move forward. We will have to do it ourselves.

Found this quote on the Internet the other day.  I think it is refreshing and helpful to us today. I also think it mirrors what we citizens should do for our nation as well as what we should expect from our nation:

            “Today will never come again. Be a blessing.

Be a friend. Encourage someone.

Take time to care. Let your words heal, and not wound.”

I wonder why we don’t live by such words? We are admonished and encouraged to do so in our churches, mosques and synagogues. We do so in our neighborhoods and in most of our civic organizations. Why don’t we do so in government circles? Why must it always be a contest of wills and distrust of the other person? What made us so cynical?

Who will be the first to break the cycle?

Jeff Bridges, the actor, had this to say a while back:

“35 million people in the US are hungry or don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and 13 million of them are children. If another country were doing this to our children, we’d be at war.”

This is the type of problem we face in America. Rather than talking about it, actions are needed. Besides a few charities and generous individuals, shouldn’t our government be helping in a concerted manner? From across the political aisle?

Shame on the politicians for not getting the job done.

September 11, 2012