Change in American politics does not just happen of its ownvolition. Political change, like social change, happens in Americawhen the majority of the people speak out, take action, andultimately vote for change.
Democracy is at its best when all eligible peopleparticipate in the process. In the past, there have been too many whodid not register to vote and stood by and watched others determineAmerica's political and economic future. As a consequence of thelast eight years of President George W. Bush and the neocons,millions of American families are now sinking deeper into thequicksands of poverty, inadequate health care, deteriorating publicschool systems, housing foreclosures and other forms of domesticeconomic misery.
This year, however, presents an unprecedented opportunityand responsibility for millions of new young voters to make thecritical difference in the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.We are working to make sure that on November 4, 2008, there will bethe largest youth voter turn out in American history.
In Denver this week at the Democratic National Conventionand a week later in St. Paul at the Republican National Convention,the candidates for president and vice president of the United Stateswill be formally nominated by the DNC and RNC.
Now that Senator Barack Obama has made the decision tohave Senator Joe Biden join the Democratic ticket as the candidatefor vice president and Senator John McCain is on the verge ofdeciding who his running mate will be, this is the pivotal moment andtime for millions of young voters across America to weigh-in on thecritical issues that Democrats, Republicans and Independents need toaddress between now and the November election.
The importance of the issues need to be emphasized here.The quality of life of people, families and communities are all atstake. The established media tends to focus disproportionately onthe nominees' personal traits and characteristics over and above thelife and death issues that impact our communities.
If John McCain can not remember how many houses he ownsand he thinks that the American economy is doing fairly well, then heis more than out of touch with the realities that we know exist inour communities.
Homelessness in the United States has grown to a record number duringthe last eight years. According to the latest statistics from the USDepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on any singlenight there are nearly 800,000 homeless persons throughout the UnitedStates. That's the number that HUD has been able to officiallyestimate based on 2006-2007 reports. The number today is probablymuch higher, given the current housing and mortgage crisis. It isprobably closer to a million homeless people each day and night thathave to roam and beg for food and shelter on the streets of thewealthiest nation in the world.
Nearly half of all homeless persons in the US are womenand children. Two-thirds of the homeless are minorities. Homelessnessshould be one of the key issues of this presidential race, inparticular for young voters, that demands a call for change.
The rise in joblessness and unemployment are also factorscontributing to the increase in poverty. Thus far in 2008, nearly ahalf million more workers have joined the ranks of the unemployed. Infact, the US Department of Labor reported that the July 2008unemployment rate of 5.7% was the highest since 2004. Astonishingly,more than 3.6 million long-tenured workers have been displaced since2005 from their jobs either because of plant closings, outsourcingand/or changes in the stability of America's industrial andmanufacturing base.
For eighteen year-olds and other teenagers who've soughtemployment this summer, another harsh situation confronted them-theabsence of job opportunities. The Labor Department reported over 20%of teenagers are unemployed. Youth employment, job trainingprograms, vocational education, and basic job and career developmentopportunities are all issues around which young voters are demandinga change.
It appears that one of the reasons why Obama decided to pick Biden ashis running mate for vice president is because of Biden's blue collarroots and his longstanding endorsement of organized labor's supportfor jobs and better wages for American workers. It will beinteresting to hear how the Obama-Biden ticket intends to deal withthe issues of poverty, homelessness, jobs, education, heath care,environment, the Iraq war and other issues that are important toyoung voters. Likewise, John McCain's decision on his running matewill also send a signal to young voters of his sensitivity to theissues that young people care about passionately.
In Denver on the first night of the DNC, a special messagewas sent to the Yoga Festival assembled to put an emphasis on theissues of health care and the global consciousness of youth andpeople of goodwill all over America and throughout the world forpeace, nonviolence, equal justice, and more respect for theenvironment, humanity, humane treatment of animals, conservation andall justice-making and peace-making work that will make the nationand world a better place for all. Arianna Huffington will give thekeynote address to the festival.
Poets, writers and artists that are sincere about usingtheir God-given creativity and genius to promote and encourageprogressive change are being more and more outspoken on these issuesbecause they are guided by the inner search of their souls andspirits to find the oneness of God and the oneness of all creation.This is what a yogi refers to as Atman, the God within.
When poets and artists push the societal envelope withcourage and clarity, sometimes they are misunderstood. But mostcreative people will not be like sheep and be misled or intimidatedby the desire of those to be politically correct which often meansbeing politically silent in the face of social injustice and masssuffering. Through meditation, art, and poetic expression, artistsand poets throughout history have been at the forefront of saying noto abuse, all abuse. They take the lead in saying yes to change.Compassion dissipates fear. This is at the core of why artistsshatter the silence. We are witnessing the evolution of the diversityand universality of the consciousness of humanity. The abusivepolitics of the past must be challenged and transformed.
In this respect, Oprah has also mentioned that there aremore than 37 million people, many of whom are young adults, who areyearning for a better way of life and a higher state of consciousnessas outlined in Eckhart Tolle's new book that has sold over 10 millioncopies: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. Earlier thisyear, we sent out an Open Letter to all the US PresidentialCandidates. We also highlighted the point about the growing new"consciousness" among more and more people who are not only ready tosee positive, constructive change in the world, but also who arewilling to work to make that change happen.
The entire world will be impacted by the outcome of theelections here in the United States. Thus, a reality check is inorder during the DNC and the RNC. We join with millions of youngpeople who want to see a Nu America, a Nu Earth and Nu World. Thatmeans there has to be a Nu Politics and a Nu Economics guided by a NuConsciousness based on peace, freedom, justice and equality for alland not based on greed, war, destruction, injustice and oppression.
Our call to action is a call to a new consciousness and anew commitment. Between now and November 4, 2008, let us all use ourenergy, imagination, creativity, prayer and power to make thedeterminative difference. God bless. Let's make change happen now.