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By Don J. Toussaint
I often wonder what type of nation my two and a half year-old daughter and millions of other children will inherit in the near future. How much different will their lives be as compared to our parents and ours? Will they be able to afford to go to college or earn a living?
In the years since my daughter’s birth, my optimism of this country’s future has waned considerably. Despite the spin that continues to regurgitate in our society, it is irrefutable that this nation’s direction is heading down the wrong path. National security notwithstanding, our domestic policy has divided the country in half.
The media and its often times bulimic reporting has done very little to articulate the serious issues affecting us. (Note: Television Critics Association chose Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” as its 2003-2004 Most Outstanding News and Public Affairs Series Award) And as the nation’s future hangs in the balance, we can expect nothing less from our news source’s Hollywoodesque reporting.
In the coming months, we have an opportunity to recall our elected officials who have taken our vote for granted. These elected officials, along with their special interest groups, high-powered lobbyists, and selfish ambitions have sold our freedom and prosperity for their own political gain. As they squander our tax dollars on misadventures and flippantly vote on bills that does little to help the masses, we are left with the bill.
Our national debt continues to rise astronomically with no clear plan on how to remedy it. We are also engaged in mismanaged conflicts halfway around the world. And as our soldiers risk their lives daily, partisan politics continues in Washington.
In the eleventh hour, we can be sure to hear from these individuals. Like cheap dates, they arrive as they normally do—kissing babies, shaking hands, and promising the world, but delivering nothing. But as the cost of our leaders decisions begin to mount, will our country reach the breaking point?
Nearly 14 million low-income adults are uninsured and ineligible for public health insurance programs (FamiliesUSA Special Report, 4/2004), Medicare is projected to go broke by 2019 and Social Security is projected to be insolvent by 2042 (Associated Press), Unemployment nationally is hovering around 5.7%, while in the Black community, the rate is over 10%. Will the military reach its breaking point with its extended stays in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the growing threat of North Korea and Iran? Can we compete in a global market with a record trade deficit? Will your job be next to going overseas? Will that then be your breaking point?
Like other states, Colorado can tip the scale. We can continue the path we are currently on and hope for the best for our children, or we can be proactive and ask questions on where we are headed. It took less than 600 votes to select the winner in the 2000 presidential election. In Colorado, 121 votes decided the winner of the 7th Congressional District. One seat decides who controls the U.S. Senate. In Colorado, one Senate seat is up for grabs. Will this be the Senate’s breaking point?
We all have a vested interest in this election and we can ill-afford to waste our vote and silence ourselves. This is a plea to take ownership in your right and to decide what course we will head.
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