Playing the Blame Game

Outside my window, the world is gray. The gunmetal sky mirrors the overused, tired asphalt road; the barren trees, silhouetted sentries, only slightly darker as they stand unable to ward off the gloom.

2,063 Americans have died in Iraq. Their families cry, suffer, ache with holes in their hearts.

More than 15,000 American soldiers have been wounded – their limbs blown off or eye sight gone – never to be the same.

60 percent of the American public does not think going to war in Iraq was worth it.

We blame the disastrous state of affairs on failed intelligence, political wrangling, ideology, a walking dead media with no investigatory ability, politicians gone astray. Always something or someone other than ourselves. And certainly there is some truth in placing the blame thusly.

But, we also need to look a bit further and remember our own role as American citizens.

What if the 60 percent who now see the war as not worth it had been active and educated before we started dropping bombs?

What if the 60 percent had looked at the performance and policies of their elected and appointed leaders and asked questions and held them accountable?

What if the 60 percent remembered that the politicians are there to represent our interest, our views, and keep our country on the right forward-moving track?

We’d likely be in a better place, with fewer dead, fewer maimed, and much more money to deal with pressing issues at home.

As an article on the State Department’s web site suggests: “Maintaining ‘a steady light’ with which to see the strengths and weaknesses of the different levels of government is the first step in responsible citizenship. From that comes individual and collective action that seeks to correct or improve aspects of politics and governance.”

There are myriad ways we can stay on top of our politicians and hold them accountable:

• Project Vote Smart – offers biographical information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest group ratings on state and federal political candidates

• Progressive Government – offers daily news, biographical information, and research on presidential appointees in the executive branch of federal government

• The Center for Public Integrity – provides a state-by-state investigation into legislators' private interests that might interest how they vote

• Congress Watch (an arm of Public Citizen) - champions consumer interests before the U.S. Congress and serves as a government watchdog.

Next year is the mid-term election year. If we begin now, we can set the agenda that propels the election and put America back on track. Then maybe the sun will shine.

It is up to us.

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Written in collaboration with Jennifer Hicks