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In the United States, we find ourselves in a representative democracy. That means that, for the most part, we don’t get to vote for what we want. Rather, we only get to vote for people who may or may not focus their political time and energy on assuring what we want. They may do what we want them to do, may do our bidding, may serve our interests. Then again, they may not.
I am wondering how it might work if instead of voting for someone who only might do what I want done, I could vote directly for what I want, what I think would be best for me, my neighborhood, my community, my county, my state, my country. In my alternative reality, I can simply point and say, “Fix that, change this, just make it happen,” and happen it does.
What will I pick from this political buffet? Let me share with you the items I want on the menu and we can then choose together. I am quite hungry for the changes for which I hope but will see it as great progress if any one of my political menu choices gets serious and sustained attention anytime soon.
• The misuse and abuse of alcohol, drugs and similar substances.
• Domestic violence within families and trusting relationships.
• Child maltreatment including neglect, abuse and adult indifference.
• The continuum from inadequate and unsafe housing to homelessness.
• Inadequate and ineffective education for many children and teens.
• Neighborhood and community crime and violence.
• Employment where a day’s work won’t secure sufficient food, housing and security.
• Hunger and malnutrition.
• Inadequate physical and mental health care.
• Unhealthy physical, emotional and social environments.
• Dangerous and unsafe streets and neighborhoods.
What have I put on my menu that you don’t want on yours? What do you want on your menu that I have not included on mine? Does it seem likely that we will be able to agree on a few items that we both want, that we both believe should be priorities? I’m definitely open to cleaner lakes and rivers, safer roads and bridges, less poverty and more prosperity, less division and more equality, more inclusion and less rejection, more doors and fewer walls.
I also worry about our not being able to compromise and negotiate, about our different perspectives and disagreements, and those times when the gap between my wants and yours tempt us to dig in and consider not working together, not working out our differences. I fear that one of us will be so rigidly opposed to the wants and priorities of the other that we refuse to participate. It’s like one of us refuses to dine together if ice cream is left off the menu, while the other one demands pickles, or no one eats.
It would be as silly as it sounds were it not for the current political reality. For many Americans, I fear that the political tussles in Washington and those more locally seem even less relevant for them and their lives as our lunchroom argument about ice cream verses pickles. There wants and interests are far too intense and immediate to permit them to focus on the big picture, on politically worthy issues, on red or blue, left or right, liberal or conservative. They are way to consumed by their very personal needs, problems and vulnerabilities that threaten to stop them from making it through the day. The politician they need is the one who will commit to doing what they want done, fixing what they need fixed just making it happen for them.
I’ll vote for that. How about you?