Yesterday I was shouting at my radio as I listened to some of the stuff I was hearing about the stimulus package — read JOBS bill. Some GOP Senators were talking about how pork-filled it was and that they were going to filibuster it. Today I read that several of those same Senators, including John McCain and John Kyl, aren’t going to be there to vote no. That’s cool. That makes it that much harder for them to pull off the threatened filibuster or to block the bill. Every day we hear of more layoffs, more pain spreading through the economy. It’s pledge season for my local NPR station, and they were pleading for contributions, saying how important it is to have non-commercial media available as an alternative to the corporate-owned stuff we’re inundated with. We’ve supported PBS and public radio for years because we find that it does a better job at being truly fair and balanced than does corporate-owned media.
Then today, I found this summary of what the bill ACTUALLY contains, stated in simple terms. The author is an ordinary American who has taken the time to read the entire bill. She (and I) are tired of the ranting over less than 1% of the total — ranting that’s intended to keep us scared in our lack of information. And there are links to the text of the actual bill. So, my fellow Americans, it’s time that we went around the talking heads, whether they are the media or members of Congress. Remember, the media is interested in ratings, and controversy garners ratings. Remember, too many members of Congress are in it to serve their own interests or those of their corporate masters, NOT the interests of the country. Read it for yourselves. See what it actually says — where the money would go, the restrictions, the oversight, the transparency.
Then, consider a couple of other points. What are the consequences of doing nothing? Of doing too little? Is it really worth sinking the whole thing for less than 1% of the total? And while you’re considering, read this piece by Tom Friedman. It’s up to us, folks. We need to get ourselves off the couch, read the bill (takes notes and really think about what it proposes), then call or email our Senators. And once the Senate passes a bill, we need to follow the progress of the conference committee and keep the pressure on both our Senators and our Representatives. We voted for change. But we need to be an active participant in that change. That change won’t happen otherwise. And if it doesn’t, we will need only to look in the mirror to see who’s responsible. President Obama has said that we are in a new era of personal responsibility, and that responsibility includes being active participants in our democracy.
