Wise Words, While Words Fail Me

"May we, beleaguered by the same negation and despair, show an affirming flame."
--W.H. Auden

I'm still grasping for an explanation for last week's election defeat. I thought the choice seemed obvious--between an admittedly flawed liberal who was none the less committed to bringing equality and security to the American people and restore America's place within the international community, versus a plutocratic ideologue intent on remaking the world in his image, regardless of the consequences, and fighting only for an elite fraction of the population.

I'm not angry, just disappointed. I'm disappointed that so many millions of people can be swayed by "moral" issues--abortion and gay marriage--even if those issues have no direct impact on them personally, while ignoring Bush's numerous other moral failings. I'm disappointed that voters can be so easily manipulated by an administration--and its Evil Genius, Karl Rove--which panders to fear to win votes. I'm disappointed by voters who ignore pervasive media coverage of the Iraq War and the domestic war on terror, and simply takes Bush's word for it that we're winning on both fronts. I'm disappointed that so many voters failed to demand that Bush aggressively address the serious problems we are facing domestically--unemployment and wage stagnation, skyrocketing healthcare costs, disappearing pensions and retiree health insurance, substandard public education--instead of tinkering with minor adjustments--at best--or selling out to corporate interests who, lo and behold, just happen to be generous contributors to his reelection campaign. And I am disappointed that so many voters value a tax cut of a few hundred dollars over the current welfare of the country as a whole and our future fiscal viability.

I am disappointed, but resolved to fight. We can take back this country from George Bush's grasp, and once again become a healthy, secure nation which values equal opportunity for all of its citizens and truly cares about its place in the world community. Our next major battle is the Congressional elections in 2006; victory there will give us back control of Congress and restore a crucial check on Bush's power for the final two years of his presidency, and lay the groundwork for retaking the White House in 2008.

I strongly encourage you to constantly engage with your conservative friends, family, neighbors and co-workers and show them the common ground which exists between the two sides, and that liberals and progressives aren't immoral, tax-raising libertines. Show them the fallacies of Bush's policies and ask them to explain how Bush truly represents them and serves their interests, while gently spelling out the liberal/progressive ideals on which this country was founded but which are being so carelessly subverted by the Bush Administration.

Most of all, be Auden's affirming flame.