The disconnect between the rhetoric of government, especially the Federal government, and the life and prospects of ordinary Americans is a vast chasm. The poor and working poor grow poorer. The rich and super rich grow richer, flaunting their political influence, wealth and extravagant lifestyles, provoking those less clever and lucky. The un-necessary wars go on and on, and cost more and more in lives and treasure, while the government refuses to restrain the military industrial complex or engage the 99% of the untouched population by risking a draft or war taxes. The Left/right political process is broken, yet hangs on because of fear of change, fear of disrupting the obsolete political norm, and fixing things like the dangerous Electoral College process for electing Presidents, where a vote in Alaska is worth 6 times more than a vote in Chicago, or the Senate that leaves us with lopsided representation that is geographic instead of population-centered. And let’s look at the ramifications of the decay of standards in education, and loss of general civility throughout society. All of that, together with inflammatory rhetoric emanating from some of our politicians and what used to be the news media, leaves little doubt that some of those on the fringe of mental stability might resort to acts of brutal terror to gain attention or express their utter frustration with society. Thus it is not surprising that Tucson happened, but that it doesn’t happen more often. The remedies, or at least the most glaring opportunities for remedy, are implied in the shortcomings I’ve just summarized. Was Tucson but a violent expression of a latent madness which ultimately infects us all.
Advertisements
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 10, 2011 at 10:54
Margaret Ebeling
What a poignant statement. Your mention of a broken education system is in my opinion the significant issue; if we cannot resolve or advance (personally) important issues with discussion and negotiation because of sheer inability to do so, then the dialog potentially shifts to emotional and even violent action and reaction, as we have seen here.
Other than the obvious tragedy with Congresswoman Giffords and the many innocent victims in Tucson, there is another dangerous result of this shooting. Our Congresspeople will simply change the way they do business when dealing with the public and their constituents. They need to ensure their personal safety and as such, will physically isolate themselves from those that they have been voted to represent. At a time when citizens already feel disconnected from their government officials, the gap will widen and more likely than not, these officials will be forced to make decisions where the public has not had the opportunity to participate in the formation of laws. Talk about adding a layer towards party polarization to boot!
I would like to think that we will be able to reach our representatives via well-worded and concise written correspondence because we have collectively blown it now to do so face to face. And to bring it full circle – are we providing a level or standard of education to our next generation to allow and encourage them to draft such a statement and contribute in a meaningful way?
January 10, 2011 at 11:06
applewoody
Yes, education is part of the answer, and the long-term hope for future generations. And more immediately, the potential for increased isolation of Congressional leadership from the general population (but not from financial supporters and lobbyists), is a real concern too.