Anger After The Debate

Since the election season began, I have found myself biting my tongue against denigrating phrases like "the bubba factor" to describe the working class. I have sat on my hands to prevent myself from writing diatribes against poisonous Republicans, and often-elitist liberals. After a lackluster VP debate, I will be watching Obama-McCain spar with both waning hopes and an ear towards personal relevancy. I wonder if the poor and working classes are to be referred to in something other than pejorative terms like "Joe Six Pack". Will the middle class once again be reduced to the parody of a "soccer mom", (or parent), whose most urgent worry is getting Billy or Suzy through college?

As a lower class, gay, liberty-loving, pro-choice, pro-peace, uninsured, empty nester Democrat who is swimming upstream in this corrupt, leaden economy -- and who does not want her government, courts, and schools ruled by religious dogma -- Barack Obama became the only reasonable choice. However, as I drive around the wealthier suburbs of Minnesota I see the McCain-Palin signs that those living closer to the city do not see in any appreciable number. It worries me, but more than that, it leaves me feeling angry in a way that maybe only someone who has really struggled in the past eight years can understand.

I watched Sarah Palin and Joe Biden politely dance with each other the other night. It was her folksy charm versus his bleached smile; her soccer moms and "Joe Six Packs" against his Scranton coffee shops and gas stations. It was an easy debate, mellow and slowly paced and, from where I sat in the living room of my rented apartment, passionless. Neither candidate exhibited a sense of urgency over any of the issues facing us today; both seemed out of touch with a large portion of Middle Americans, who are not just worried about sending their kids to college but about being able to provide them with essential basics, like food and shelter.

Yet the only mention of the increasingly poor working class when Palin stated the she wants to make sure that they cannot declare bankruptcy. Here in Minnesota, bankruptcy reform has made it almost impossible for the poor to file. Meanwhile, wealthier filers can still find relief. The Republican solution to perceived bankruptcy fraud was to maintain a financial safety net for richer Americans while leaving the poor trapped in a life cycle of low wages, high debt, and wage garnishments. Palin not only sees nothing perverse about that, she finds that there are "good lessons" to be found in these predatory times.

People, she said, should not live above their means. They should not buy a $300,000 house when they can only afford a $100,000 house. This, if a $100,000 house truly existed as anywhere near the average anymore, might be good advice. Instead, there are "starter homes" in the heartland selling for $230,000, while the minimum wage is still $5.75. Retail employees make $8.00-$10.00 per hour, and bus drivers earn $10.00-$12.00. Factoring in taxes, and the cost of insurance, (if available), it is easy to see how and why so many Americans are living "above their means". It is the economy, stupid, and buying a cheaper brand of toilet paper and clipping coupons is not going to get the average working class American out of the downward spiral of debt.

While I was stunned by Palin's myopic adherence to Republican dogma, I heard little from Biden that raised my hopes, which sunk quite a bit after Obama, (and McCain), voted yes on a, (now), $800 Billion bailout filled with pork barrel spending, that EXCLUDED consumer protections that were part of original bill.

Both candidates voted for the bailout, as did the majority of Congress, even while the public's phone calls to Senate offices were running about 100-1 against. What shall we say about politicians who ignore the will of their constituents and who refuse to rise above the din of political panic? Even if one was to believe a bailout was the solution, there was no logical reason for the pork barrel earmarks or the exclusion of consumer protections.

There were no mavericks in the VP debate and I am still hoping to see one on the horizon. For now, there is more of the same or some hope for change. There are all the usual clichés from both sides, a disconcerting lack of substance, an unwillingness to fight the good fight and there's been no sense of urgency about anything other than Wall Street's financial institutions.

As for the war, and spending for the war, I find the misleading rhetoric amazing. Funding for the military has not just gone towards armor and equipment for the troops; it has gone to enormously expensive contracts for giant private entities like Halliburton. Voting against "funding the troops" is not always about support for the troops, but about whom we are choosing to rebuild parts of countries we have demolished, how much we are willing to pay and how accountable we wish to hold them.

Patriotically baiting one-liners such as "brave men and women who have died for our freedom" continue to chill dissent. The awful truth is that many of our dead soldiers did not die to save our freedom. Our freedom was not in danger. While 9-11 was an unparalleled disaster on American soil, it was not an attack from another country, but from a group of Muslim extremists most of whom hailed from our government's ally Saudi Arabia. We have caught very few of the well-known extremists, including Bin-Laden, and even if we had, the destructive bane of radical Islam would not stop with their capture. Even if America and her allies can force democracy on Islamic states, there is no guarantee of permanence; there is more than a strong likelihood that it would be temporary. Islam does not separate the political from the religious, and Sharia law, which Muslims subscribe to as part of their faith, is at odds with American-style democracy.

Our want, (and greed), of oil from these regions has, in so many ways, hampered the evolution of the Middle East. We have propped up dictators, made multi-billionaires out of royal families, funded madrassas, educated their scientists and given technology and weaponry to oppressive armies. Our worries that the religious extremists in the Middle East will go nuclear are not without basis, yet we continue to pour money and other resources into the region for the sake of oil. At the same time, we have failed miserably in developing, producing and promoting other forms of energy.

I am angry. Disgusted. Disappointed.

Nevertheless, I will vote for hope, even if scant and waning, because the alternative is just too frightening to consider.

Comments

[Ladyvoice]

Beautifully and passionately written. Spoken for those whose voices are lost in this madness. Thank you.

[AlisonWonderland]

Jane, As usual, you express so clearly and serenely the same reactions to these events that I have. My hope is still there, but it's a fraction of what it was. I can't believe how far it feels from that euphoric feeling of finally having a presidential election that enabled me to vote "for" someone instead of simply against the worse alternative. During the primaries there were at least several Democratic candidates I could happily have pulled the lever for as President. When Obama won the nomination I thought that the country would really advance dramatically if he were in office. Given the current state of the economy, I'm not even sure what will remain of this country even if he does win the election. What money will there be to do anything for anyone? The only silver lining will be that we can't afford to start anymore wars - I hope. Other than that, what's to be excited about?

[RationalityPlease]

Thanks, Jane, for speaking so eloquently for the majority of U.S. citizens who have somehow allowed ourselves to become marginalized by our own government and media.

It's time for a new rallying cry--one that the Republicans have never wanted to hear--and one that many Democrats forgot they once stood for: ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

[seatea1967]

Wow. Thanks so much for a fantastic post!

[DorisRoseMacBean]

Jane, Thanks for once again speaking truth to power and for voicing the concerns of "real" American citizens who seem to have lost their voice.
Don't stop writing for us...please.

[JeanneT]

Jane - Thank you for eloquently and clearly stating what so many of us feel right now. I will vote for Obama although he was not my first choice. And, I am terrified of another 8 years like the last. Please keep speaking and writing.....we need more voice to be heard!

[lindawoods]

Thank you for such a wonderful post!

[PamelaDetlor]

Hey Jane,
I"ve taken the time to read every word and I"m a little sicker to my stomach over the state of the WORLD. Much of which has been influenced by Bush"s 7.5 years of Presidential Havoc.

Bottom line: John Q Public, world-wide, is suffering crap wages, poor or NO healthcare, inflating prices on EVERYTHING, corrupt governments, disillusionment, apathy, and on and on. That some believe an inexperienced rookie like Palin has what it takes to fix this mess is absurd. To say she can take the lead if McCain falls ill is DOWN RIGHT SCARY!

There are NO Mavericks in the Republican Party. McCain IS a Washington Insider " he"s been there, voting along side his pal, W., 90% of the time for thirty years. Who is he trying to kid? Palin is a typical "Christian" who is all for guns and God, but not gay rights. On the other side " Biden HAS GOT TO stop referring to himself in the third person " he sounds like an idiot.

These are frightening times on the world stage. The human race is running out of time to get IT right. I hope and pray, (yes " my godless homosexual, damned to hell, soul still prays), that America does NOT put McCain/Palin in office. 4 " 8 years of their leadership (or lack there of) could bring a first world nation to third world existence. Bush has started that course " they would absolutely finish it.

[donnafaber8]

OH Jane, I'm so happy to see you here, and so proud to support your article on the Huffington Post!! Most excellent! Most, most excellent!

[everythingsjustjake]

I agree with everything you say here, Jane. It"s disheartening.

"Funding for the Troops" should start at fixing the conditions they come back to.
The Veteran hospitals are in shambles.
Injured veterans are left in these decaying hospitals by the government.
Many Troops are returning to duty with psychological issues.

We can"t be guided by blind faith. We can"t just believe and hope that the government that is elected into power will "do" if we somehow will it. "The People" need to keep their government accountable.
In fact, governments, globally, need to be clean slated and started off again from scratch. The present systems are so out dated which is why I think We, The People are so disheartened, viewed as "cynical" and depressed.
We"ve been (dis)placed here.

[annebonney]

Ahh! The voice of a TRUE American! A voice for millions of Americans. With voices like yours, Jane, who dares give voice to what the polished plastic politicians of this country have truly lost touch with, YOU give me/us hope.

Jane should not stand alone in her effort to 'tug on Superman's cape'. Voices can only be heard above the cacophony of lies and rhetoric when, as a choir, they rise above the white noise that accompanies the distortions from the media, the politicos and what should be the chew toys of the true American public

It's time for all of us to start singing, y'all!

[BGraham]

Jane, as I'm watching the debate I'm just floored by this idea of a $5000 tax credit for health insurance. Apparently McCain doesn't understand that MOST uninsured Americans cannot pay for premiums up front and then wait until the end of the year to be reimbursed. It just shows how out of touch he is with people who AREN'T rich!

[Uniqua]

Thanks Jane, I am so glad someone has finally voiced what I also felt. I don't understand how people are buying into this "prop of a woman" standing up before people calling them JOE SIXPACK. I thought to myself, who identifies with JOE SIXPACK? Do I know anyone who would admit to being a JOE SIXPACK? JOE SIXPACK doesn't really exist, and if he really did, do you think the REPUBLICANS are going to help him? Its disgusting...the whole thing is sickening. Most elementary and secondary school teachers have far more credentials and are far more educated and qualified to be vice president than Palin. I'm also highly pissed that the repubs are flesh-peddling this woman instead of a real woman like Condileeza Rice or a number of (actually) qualified women, not that I would ever vote for her, but wouldn't that have been a sight to see, a BIDEN and RICE debate? Come on folks, when they pass up a real woman for a prop, they've insulted America's intelligence....smoke and mirrors, Republicans are masters of the smoke and mirrors....

[V-Grrrl]

It's crazy that the rallying cry this election has been "vote for change." Obama promises it as a Democrat following a Republican administration. McCain promises it as a "maverick."

As if change in and of itself is a good thing! We've all seen plenty of changes in the past eight years, and as Jane points out, they haven't been good..

I won't vote for "change" nor will I vote for "hope." Hope is what is draining passion and feeding apathy, keeping us from hitting the streets and raising our voices over the state of the country and the state of our lives.

I'm angry too, tired of candidates who assume we are too stupid to handle details and can only swallow sound bytes.

I don't want to be inspired by political leaders words but by their actions. Hope? Change? No, I'd rather vote for justice, for truth.

[AllenPapapetrou]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Straight talk. I agree with you. You certainly laid it on the line. I will vote for Obama, but after the bailout fiasco my vote seems less for hope and more for the lesser of two evils.

Hope fades, still faintly alive.