Yes We Can

I find myself completely inspired by this. A speech by Barack Obama put to music. Here is the courage, here is the vision!
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It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY&3

Courage and Vision

So, tell me, where is the courage and vision in the Bush regime’s economic stimulus package? Seems that the Bush administration, as well as most other politic playing politicians just want to gain favor prior to the fall elections. You know, “Remember me? I voted to give you $600 this summer! Ain’t I great?” Geez – what the heck is going on?

There is absolutely no-one, that is anyone with any sense of reason and understanding of basic economics 101, that believes the so called “stimulus package” is going to benefit anyone more deeply than a simple household budget buffer. Even Alan Greenspan, when asked if the Fed, or any economic stimulus packages offered up by the U.S. government, could help ward off any recession, replied, “likely not.”

Come on! Where is the courage and vision?

If we, as United States citizens, and by that I mean those that are supposed to represent us in our own government… If we have decided to willingly increase our national debt, or at least negatively impact our tax coffers, by offering up $161 billion, yes billion, then why in the heck don’t we do something truly meaningful with that money?

For example, $161 billion would go a long way toward repairing the American infrastructure. The America Society of Civil Engineers’ (SCE) 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure assessed the condition and capacity of our nation's public works with an overall grade of D. The ASCE estimates that $1.6 trillion is needed over a five-year period to bring the nation's infrastructure to good condition. While long term solutions are needed, in the short term, small steps can be taken by the 110th Congress to improve our nation's failing infrastructure. The estimated total need of $1.6 trillion in federal, state and local funds is not all new money. Much of it is already allocated in existing budgets. However, existing funds have been repeatedly raided to pay for other programs. Can you say “war”?

If the focus were prioritized toward work needed in repairing bridges, roads & transit, and dams & levees, and the $161 billion that we’re about ready to give away, for good, were to be utilized, not only would we make our societies safer, but we would create jobs, and still have more than $75 billion left to put to good use elsewhere. According to the ASCE, state dam safety officials estimate that $10 billion is needed to repair the most critical dams over the next 12 years. More than 3,500 unsafe or deficient dams have been identified, many of which are susceptible to large flood events or earthquakes. Additionally, poor road conditions cost U.S. motorists $54 billion a year in repairs and operating costs. We can fix these elements of our failing infrastructure, which has an overall grade of “D” from the ASCE, and put people to work!

But we don’t have to focus on the infrastructure. We could focus on our ever hungry energy appetite. If the $161 billion were to be put into programs that would help subsidize alternative fuel generation, such as oils and fuels generated by sunflowers or hemp or animal food processing by-products, we could lessen our dependency on foreign oil, we could create jobs, and if managed well, could advance technology in may areas that would subsequently spawn next generation products, services, and certainly long term employment opportunities.

Seems to me that the $161 billion give away comes with no thought about our future, no vision concerning a “realistic” path out of recession, and no courage to stand to do the right thing.

Where is the courage and vision? Where are the men and women that represent us? Seems they are too busy trying to impress us all with a $600 check, when what we really want is a path toward financial security.

We need to stand against this tax refund! After all, don’t we willingly pay our taxes for the benefit of our society? Don’t we all understand that we must pay into our society as a responsibility of living in it? Don’t we also require of our “representatives” that they responsibly spend our tax dollars on the key elements of securing our future, ensuring our financial base, and using their influence and position to creatively look down the road? Aren’t these the very reasons why we elected them in the first place?

Our voices, collectively or as individuals, can make a difference. Speak out now!