This essay, written by my long-time friend Greg Cusack, offers an honest and hopeful look at the (apparently) lost art of problem-solving by talking.
It appears that for many Americans the answer to anything these days is twist and shout!
As one raised in the spirit of tackling problems, I continue to be saddened by how many among us apparently love to hurl insults, post vicious or demeaning comments, or even suggest that “now” may be the time to consider using violence.
I am simply very tired of the yammering out there, no matter “where” or from “which side” it is coming from! Solutions to what ails us are available and possible, but we must turn from posting comments and insults to addressing paths to solutions.
Parents and education
Of course we want parents involved in the education of their children! And, yes, there will be times – like the present – when one or more issues will cause tremendous worry or concern among parents. But let’s stop whining about it and see this for the opportunity that it is!
At some point – after the initial shouting and finger-pointing are over – school officials should invite parents to share with them both what they do not want taught as well as how they believe sensitive topics should be addressed.
After all, most of the agitated parents are not racists, they are just people who have been fed a line by the Right designed to gin ‘em up. OK, but let us also admit that a few people out there – hardly unusual in a nation of over 300 million people – have said or taught or used some things that are at best foolish and, at worst, stupid and distorting.
White people today, for instance, are not responsible for the horrors of slavery forced upon Black people for centuries in this country. However, white people should be aware of how the tendrils of past policies still linger and continue to inflict harm upon non-whites: in where people were/are allowed to live, in hiring and promotion opportunities, as well as by the increasingly loud nonsense spouted by white nationalist/supremacists.
Moreover, a form of history has long been taught in this country which downplayed – or even omitted – certain key elements, and most of these have involved the experience of non-white folks, including Blacks, Native, Asian, and Hispanic peoples. We should invite all parents to dialogue about how their stories can be respectfully integrated into the history of all of us.
History should be taught “warts and all,” and what this means is that our ancestors – just like ourselves – were a mix of folks: a few clearly bad ones, but most people – just like us – doing our best to get by while often being largely unaware of some larger forces or developments affecting others. History needs to stress how people understood what was going on as well as what they believed their options to be. I really do not believe that most of us – liberal, conservative, or whatever – are afraid of the truth, but we all are sensitive to the “spin” that some would put on its presentation. Let us all be willing to see how our own disposition and/or preferences may interfere with our ability to hear and understand the concern of those who disagree with us.
Actually, that last sentence should apply to every hot topic today, since it seems that a great deal of non-listening is going on.
The Infrastructure Bills
I think we need to acknowledge a couple of obvious facts before turning to what can be done.
The first is that the current iteration of the Republican Party is filled mostly with people who wish to deny President Biden and the Democratic Party of any achievements, no matter how objectively worthy or desirable.
This is despicable; in my years of public service anyone in either party who had taken such a position with regard to proposals by the governor of Iowa would have been ignored! Yes, we had our partisan differences, but I can recall very few that were not submitted to bi-partisan review, intensive discussion, and sincere efforts and compromise. Simply adopting a negative stance is highly unethical and violates the entire spirit of the Constitution. If a person objects to an idea or proposal, the correct response is to point out the reasons why the proposal is objectionable and then to suggest ways to improve/correct the proposal. (Yes, there are some ideas so objectionable – supporting slavery or the mass exportation of designated groups, for examples – that no reasonable compromises are possible, but the number of such instances are actually few, indeed.)
So, with regard to either infrastructure bill (those that address both human and physical resources) anyone with objections who was also sincerely interested in being reasonable and thoughtful would respond either by saying, “Proposal ‘x’ should not be part of this bill for the following reasons…..” or “I could support this bill only if element ‘y’ were changed/amended to read….”
This response is fact-based and gives the supporters of such provisions targets that they need to address. The proponents of such provisions then have the chance to work with the objector(s) in order to find a compromise position acceptable to both.
This process does take some time, but in my experience it always resulted in eventual legislation that was more broadly acceptable and, therefore, more likely to be successfully implemented.
In the case of the first infrastructure bill, the one just signed by President Biden, this kind of give- and-take actually took place!
However, with regard to the measure just passed by the House, no Republican has either voiced support for it nor – for me the more crucial part – has indicated how it could be improved/changed in order to merit their support. Republicans have just, carte blanche, opposed it.
Why?
I can understand why some would oppose specific elements in it – there are some that I have some concerns about, too – but simply to oppose the whole thing? Without discussion? Something is grievously wrong here.
Expanding childcare – First, is there anyone who thinks that this is a bad idea or unneeded? If so, let’s hear your arguments.
Expanding parental leave – Again, if there is disagreement about whether this is either necessary or desirable, let’s hear them.
Etc.
Growing Wealth Inequality
I personally believe that liberals and conservatives alike have dropped the ball on this major issue. It is shameful that so many of us are struggling to maintain the same relative economic and social
position occupied by our parents while a minority of already wealthy persons continue to be further enriched thanks to current economic and tax policies.
So, if you disagree with what the Democrats are proposing to begin to rectify this problem – including increasing taxation of the richest among us – what do you propose as an alternative? Doing nothing seems very unwise, and so your preferred alternative is….?
The truth is that all of us – whatever our economic or political ideology – loses out when proposals are not debated. In my experience, there are few proposals so outrageously bad that they should not be considered. Likewise, there are very few proposals that cannot be improved through discussion and amendment.
This is what the Congress is supposed to be doing!
Enough with the thoughtless memes intended to rile up your own tribe! We need to come together to grapple with the major issues facing us or else we will go down the tube together.
I do not believe that every idea that comes from liberals or progressives to be wise, thoughtful, or needed, nor do I reject every idea that comes from thoughtful conservatives. But, ladies and gentlemen, our current state of affairs is leaving us powerless to do any of those things needed to make our country more prosperous, just, and fair to all.
My point is that in all cases we need to turn to what can we do to solve our problems rather than just simply continuing to be jawing about them!