Davison's Doodle

After This Election, We Need a New Vision Forward

Jim Wallis is a realist, I think, but he also suffers from what I call, “true believer syndrome.”  As I reflect on the election results here in Oklahoma as well as those around the nation the best way I can understand the white fear and explain the victory of plutocracy is to conclude that much of the nation suffers from Stockholm Syndrome.   How is it that the party that refused to affirm their own ideas that this President brought to them via a Democratic congress is now ready to “do something” because they are now is some position of power.  It is a demonstration of the “brat” nature some of us can exhibit.  Who is rewarded?  Follow the money.   It is multi-national corporations that are holding our government and most of us hostage.  In my opinion, the Republicans in government, not the average citizen that I share the road with, shop with and worship with, are only concerned about power, regaining power from a feared minority because that requires a change in worldview.  It is, I think, the ugly truth that has not been spoken.  You can wrap systemic plutocracy and racism in political slogans, you can scare the uninformed and those that don’t have the ability to filter information or wish to think for themselves,  you can scapegoat like they are doing in Arizona and with terms like “Obamacare”, but when the curtain is pulled back and light is shown into the money those that think the Republicans have their best interest in mind or will bring back some mythical value or honor are voting to remain indentured servants that have the freedom to shop at Walmart or cross state lines when they wish.  A quote from Gangs of New York is relevant today, “Everybody owes, everybody pays.  Because that’s how you stand up against the rising of the tide.”

Here is what Jim Wallis thinks.

After this Election, We Need a New Vision Forward
Jim Wallis | Nov. 3, 2010

He told me a story that sums up for me what happened in this election. During the health care debate his office sent out a press release entitled “Top Reasons to Oppose Obamacare.” He took those reasons and blew them up onto a banner to hang behind him during town hall meetings on health care. He started every town hall meeting taking 5 minutes to go through his list of reasons to oppose Obama’s health care plan. He then spent the next 85 minutes of those town halls talking about his vision for a conservative approach to health care reform that would cover people who didn’t have health insurance. That, he explained, was the beginning of the end of his reelection campaign.

This November 2, most voters cast their ballot against something. Some people voted against Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. Others voted against the Tea Party. My primary concern is not the electoral math but how our country approaches politics. When all our leaders are able to do is express opposition to the “other” side, we are in a crisis of leadership.