Ruminations about our current political environment

I have a very sick dog and we also just lost his "brother" in August, so my attentions are really elsewhere these days.   However, I do have some thoughts that I want to write down about the current political envirnoment of our country.

Basically, I think we can all pretty well agree that things are fairly caustic out there.  Discouraging, but perhaps par for the course of the political process this close to an election. But there is something else that isn't being said that is even more distressing to me.  The closest comment I've heard about this area of concern occurred recently on the Jim Leher News Hour in an  interview of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor by Judy Woodruff.   Justice O'Connor was speaking of her work with schools in promoting an electronic game aimed at teaching students about Civics/Government--with some sprcific emphasis on the role of the courts.

My concern is what seems to me to be the irresponsiblity of the electorate in this election.  Irresponsible candidates and policiticians are distressing enough, but voting Americans in the past could more often than not, be counted on to consider the issues and make choices aimed at a better-functioning government.  But this imperative of a working democracy such as ours, seems to have been abandoned.  I find this very discouraging and distressful indeed.

Our democracy has found much of its strength not only by its rule-of-law as established in the Constitution, but also by the generally unified commitment of its electorate to support the nation's integrity and well-being.  This committement required that citizens  become actively involved in the issues at hand.  There was one dark period in our history where this unity of committment did not occur, and a Civil War was fought. The Union prevailed in that war and in spite of any remaining disagreements, the integrity of the country as a whole was embraced and has continued to be maintained.

But no more.  While there will always be politicians who don't really lead but rather subterfuge the political process to meet their own agendas (which don't necessarily reflect the desires of those who support them.), in the past, the electorate could generally be counted upon to do their homework and counter the effects of such political disdain.   But during this election, large numbers of citizens are refusing to truly address the issues of goverance that are at hand .  Rather, they prefer to focus on their own personal issues and peeves at the expense of maintaining a country that gives space for all of us to live and work in a free society.  It is not an easy task for average citizens to grapple with the difficult challenges of our republic, but it is our job as citizens.  If we forego this responsibity, we do so at the peril of our political system .  It is that important.  Justice O''Connor was speaking to that issue when she spoke of her activities in teaching Civics to students.  Somehow we've now dropped our attention to Civics in the schools and she is exploring ways to re-introduce this important subject matter for the sake of our functioning democracy. 

When I talk about this election, I'm not only speaking of the angry Tea Party Movement--which can be utilized as a force for positive change-- but am including citizens from most of the political parties and movements:  Democrats, Libertarians, progressives, conservatives, Republicans, the religious right, etc.  So many of us are behaving like mean and misguided children, but our entire political process depends on adults behaving like adults and on citizens behaving like citizens.  It is up to each of us to inform ourselves about the issues through our (cherished) avenues of verifiable information. It is not up to a party to reach us, it is up to us to find the information we need for an informed vote.  If a party demands change, then it is up to us to find out what that party's plan is, or that candidate's.  If we have a plan, it is up to us to communicate that plan in a manner that others can hear and question.  If we want to make a point through demonstration, then it is up to us to make sure that we maintain an environment that respects the safety and participation of all those who attend the demonstration.  The examples could go on and on, but the bottom line is that although we are not obligated to apply ourselves to the tasks of active citizenship, and although we may prefer the righteousness of devisive methods of participation, or the self-indulgences of misinformation, or the ease of not participating at all, what is really at stake if we refuse  to honor our system of government responsibly, is the system itself.  It is as simple as that.  There are entities within our country and abroad who would like to run our country their own way with their own agendas using their own contols.  If we refuse to recognize and uilize the mechanisms that Americans have worked and died for over the decades, then we are at risk to lose it all.  How sad that would be, when all that is required of us is to act like responsible adults who share the privelge of being citizens of a wonderful country.    Ruthie

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First ruminations

I'm an "old guy" (Will Smith, "Men in Black") and not particularly techie, so it has taken me a long time to create this basic, easy-to-do template blog, but I'm motivated to persist!  The reason I'm so motivated?  I want to say a few things before our next election in November.  Time is running out while Life makes it's ongoing demands, but finally I think I've gotten the process down enough to say a couple of things, as follows:

#1.  Meg Whitman, please don't presume to speak for all women, or even all women in California when you say that Jerry Brown's campaign camp has created a major offense by an off-the-record, unfortuante expletive.  I don't like the word either, and never use it, but come on:  We're big girls now and you play the game of big money and cutthroat tactics pretty darn well in the world of business and politics. So now all of a sudden you are the damsel in distress over hearing an unfortunate heated response to one of your political stategies.  Jerry Brown apologized and acknowledged that it shouldn't have happend.   End of story.  Again, please don't include me in your pseudo dismay.  If the event offends your senses, try volunteering a few hours at a rape center or a women's shelter  to find our what really hurts women.  As a California woman, (older than you), I find your tactic of trying to use this silly event to your political advantage as very offensive indeed.
#2.  So why didn't you provide access to legal advice for your beloved long-term housekeeper before you broke your heart and fired her?

So ends my first blog entry.