Saturday, July 10, 2004

What Matters Most
The political discourse in this country is so full of ideological hyperbole that there is almost no rational debate about anything. Republicans are so fixated on a few narrow issues that they refuse to consider any alternative ideas from a representative with a D next to his or her name. And Democrats hate Bush so much that they will say almost anything no matter how outlandish, as long as it’s the opposite of the administration's position. Democrats who you know are good people and in their hearts support the war on terror, refuse to back this president. Every time I see some idiot on "Meet the Press" bashing Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell it makes me want to pull my hair out.

We spend all of our time arguing about ideological differences, differences that will probably never be bridged, when what we need to be doing is having real debate about the things that we can actually work together on as Americans. I believe we could make a real difference in our lives if only we would try.

I've found that when I ask someone what is most important to them, things like financial security, jobs, and the education of their children are foremost in their mind. Things that impact their pocket book and affect their quality of life matter most. Sure, it's great that people in Afghanistan can buy VCRs and have soccer matches again. And it's true that the plight of women in Muslim nations everywhere is of real concern. But the quality of life for me and my kids is what’s most important to me.

By Gary Marcum at 11:43 AM | Permalink
Category: General Politics | Comments (0)

Wednesday, July 7, 2004

The Ghost from the Wishing Well
Little of the once heated debate over the proposed Equal Rights Amendment seems to make the news these days. Most people probably assume the ERA movement died a long time ago, but they would be mistaken. A resolution calling for the passage of an amendment for equal rights for women was read into the record of the U.S. House of Representatives in the current 108th session of Congress on January 28, 2003, just as it has been read into the record by one sponsor or another in every congressional session since 1982. The current version, H.RES.38, sponsored by Rep. Robert E. Andrews of New Jersey, along with 36 co-sponsors, was promptly referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, and on March 6, 2003, referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, where it presumably resides to this day without much notice.

Will it re-emerge as an issue in this presidential campaign? It seems unlikely, with all the attention going to Iraq on one hand and our own economy on the other. But the ERA is still alive through interesting legal maneuvers and constitutional debates which are ongoing. It may yet rear its head.

By Robert Parker at 12:21 PM | Permalink
Category: Women's Issues | Comments (0)