Step Up To The Plate

Do you ever get that feeling that it's only you? That Chicken Little feeling that makes others eyes glaze over when you bring the topic yet up again? That addictive obsession that keeps you ever alert for more information? More information to yet fuel your repetitive thoughts? That's me. And guess what. There's more of me out there. And it feels good. Really good.

If you saw my blog last week, you know about the Bipartisan Forum, hosted by David Boren and Sam Nunn. This was something I did not want to miss. Yesterday, my good sport of a husband and I arrived in Norman. I was optimistic, but uncertain of what to expect. The event did not disappoint. You should have been there!

As we turned off of Boyd onto Elm, there were Anti War Protesters on the corner. Protesters! I was at OU during the Vietnam War so this was very nostalgic. In fact, I think most of the demonstrators were actually about my age. I wonder if they sit at the Library Bar and talk about the "good old days?" I gave them the Peace Sign as we pulled into the parking garage.

Catlett Hall was packed. The whole downstairs was reserved for media. I thought about telling security I wrote a blog for my local paper but those getting onto the floor were the New York Times and AP type folk. Those people didn't look like they wanted to exchange recipes with me. Note: Phoenix, I need a press pass.

All others were seated upstairs and many were sent to another building for overflow viewing. My husband and I were saving seats for our two boys and it got a little uncomfortable as hopefuls journeyed up the steep stairs, only to see we had "saved" seats. It was reminiscent of MHS graduation at the Civic Center. Said sons did indeed arrive and I could again make eye contact with interested audience members looking for a chair.

I'll say this. David Boren does it right. The event was well-organized, well run and the message was well presented. I am going to include the group's joint statement but want to share some of the comments that really impressed and enlightened me. Of course, being the professional reporter that I am, I had changed purses and was scribbling notes on 2 bank receipts, a Thank you note and a doctor's appointment card.

Just a few notes I scribbled in the dark.

*A Democracy protects our rights and
a Republic requires citizens to do all that is necessary to do so.
When we say The Pledge of Allegiance, we are promising to accept that responsibility.
*We are a nation who has taken the good for granted and expect "The Good Life" without sacrifice. There is nothing for nothing any longer. To insure this nation for our children and their children will require sacrifice.
*We have allowed politicians to tell us what we want to hear as they bankrupt the future of the next generations. We are eating our seed corn.
*Rampart partisanship has paralyzed and polarized our government so good decisions cannot be made. Politicians are more worried about the bases than the middle because bases voice their opinion; bases give the money; and bases VOTE!!!
*20 years ago, party caucuses met in Washington once, or maybe twice a year. Now, they meet EVERY week. Are they discussing the energy crisis or health care or education? No. It's a Gotcha discussion, aimed at the enemy, the other party. The enemy. How can a system operate for the national good in a climate like that?
*When our forefather's created the concept of public education, it was for one specific purpose. To train it's youth to be citizens. (Back to that "Republic" notion). There was no monarchy, no heir apparent and young America was a pretty unruly and uninformed lot. They needed to be taught to how to protect and preserve this young nation. Today, 80% of American Universities do not require American History or Political Science.
*When Winston Churchill put together his cabinet and committees, the very existence of his country was in peril. He allowed no party lines to be drawn and decisions were made along non-partisan lines. Can you imagine the Washingtonians posturing and spinning should America ever have life altering decisions with long term repercussions? Oh. Wait. We already do.
*American politics has become a politics of avoidance. If an issue is addressed, a vote may be lost. There are no long term plans, only plans that relate within the next election year.

"As citizens and as a nation, we must renew a commitment to community. With national unity, challenges can be met. With a cohesive strategy from those elected by us, we can unify and turn America's peril into America's Promise."

Joint statement by participants at the OU political forum

A nonpartisan appeal to a nation at risk: America is in danger. Our ability to meet and solve the problems that face us is seriously compromised. National surveys reveal that an unprecedented seven out of ten citizens believe that life for their children will not be as good as their own. We are headed in the wrong direction. We share their deep concern and frustration.
Our nation is indeed at risk.
* Approval for the United States around the world has dropped to historically low levels, with only one out of four people approving of our country's actions, even in nations that are our longtime allies;
* We have eroded America's credibility and capacity to lead on urgent global and foreign policy issues including terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, climate change, and regional instabilities;
* Our budget and trade deficits are out of control. We are squandering our children's future. The ominous transfer of our national wealth has made our economy vulnerable, and our economic strength and competitiveness are both declining. Middle-income Americans are struggling to keep their homes and jobs and educate their children.
* We are not as secure as we should be. Our military is stretched thin and our nation remains vulnerable to catastrophic terrorism.
* We are being held economically hostage because we have no energy policy worthy of the name.
*Our educational system is failing to prepare our children to succeed in a globalized and technological world.
* Nearly 50 million Americans remain without health insurance, and the cost of medical care continues to spiral.
* The failures of bridges in Minneapolis and levees in New Orleans are harsh metaphors for the reckless neglect of our infrastructure.

These critical issues are uniquely interlocked and we must have a national strategy and prioritization of resources. We are failing to address them because rampant partisanship has paralyzed the ability of our government to act. If we allow polarizing politics to continue, we will remain a nation divided and no matter who is elected this fall, he or she will not have a mandate for governing. Too many in both our parties have sought to energize their bases instead of reaching out to address the issues that concern our nation as a whole. They appeal to extremes and marginalize those in the commonsense center. In order to break this partisan impasse, we urge the presidential candidates to provide:
# Clear descriptions of how they would establish a government of national unity;
# Specific strategies for reducing polarization and reaching bipartisan consensus;
# Plans to go beyond tokenism to appoint a truly bipartisan cabinet with critical posts held by the most qualified people available regardless of political affiliation; (Love this one!)
#Proposals for bipartisan executive and legislative policy groups in critical areas such as national security.National elections present an opportunity for candidates and citizens to have a serious and civil discussion of the imperative issues facing our country at home and abroad.

Today, we urge our fellow citizens, including the news media, to join us in asking the candidates to address these challenges. If as a nation we begin to ask, debate, and address these and other fundamental issues, we can renew our commitment to community and empower those we elect to govern effectively. We are convinced that if we establish a government of national unity, we can meet these challenges head on, develop a cohesive strategy prioritizing our responses and matching our goals with our capabilities. In short, we believe that if we unify, we can turn America's peril into America's promise and face our future with optimism.

Is anyone out there? It is going to take all Americans to make this country go backward. Backward to the ideals, the beliefs and the government the United States was founded on. It's time for another revolution. Not a war of guns but a war of meetings, and letters, and advocates, and watchdogs, and votes. We can no longer just shake our heads and ignore the issues. We must honestly look at what has to happen to insure the most noble and magnificent way of life ever offered a civilization. America. Our country's future and our children's future depends on it.