I'm Breaking A Promise to Myself

I had promised myself not to use this place to talk politics. Anyone who reads me knows what side I am on, and you don't come here to hear me spout off on my beliefs (well, you do, but you know what I mean.) I'm not judging others that use their blog as a political space, but, that's not really me. But, something happened yesterday that made me change my mind.

I work in a building that houses most of the social welfare programs for my county. WIC, food stamps, energy assistance, you get my drift. And, I need to point out, I work for an incredibly rich county. I pulled into my building at 9:15 am and the parking lot was full. The satellite lot next door was also full and I parked on the street. This has become a usual occurrence in the past few months.

When the elevator doors opened to the second floor, where the programs are located, the waiting room was packed and the line snaked around the room. These are people, in a rich county, who need help. Help to pay for food, help to pay their electrical bill, help to secure the down payment for an apartment or else be homeless. Help.

The Republicans have cut these programs so much there is not much money there. And with this economy, more people need help. Anyone who does not think the economy is in trouble is sorely mistaken (John McCain, Sarah Palin, George Bush), and I urge you to walk into my building any weekday at 9 am.

I understand not everyone believes in social welfare, not everyone believes we should pay taxes to help people. That it is more important to fight unnecessary wars than it is to make sure people do not have to chose between gas for their cars or feeding their family. I am not that someone. I was talking to a Republican (yes I know some) yesterday who was telling me the economy was not in crisis, that this was all made up by "the liberal media." That the "liberal media" is turning everything Sarah Palin says around to make her look unqualified. Um, Sarah Palin is unqualified. If she is qualified to be VP then I am qualified to be AG. Hey, she was PTA president and I work in the County Attorney's office.

Fox News and the Republicans have done a very good job in convincing people that every other media outlet is biased. That when someone has the audacity to speak the truth that they are out to get them. It's a calculated effort and I'm terrified that it's working and will work come November.

A McCain/Palin ticket terrifies me on so many levels. I believe firmly in a woman's right to choose. Interestingly, McCain said in an interview, 2 days before he picked Palin, that he believed the Republican platform should be amended to allow abortion in cases of rape and incest and when a mother's life is at risk. That never happened and he picked Palin who does not believe that. Hypocritical much? Pander to your base much?

A McCain administration goes against everything I believe in. As an American, but also as a human being. We should not be invading countries when people in our own country are starving. When people cannot afford health care. When people can not afford their electrical bill.

I want to pull into work in the morning and have my pick of spaces.

Comments

[TracyH]

What a great post! I feel so patriotic now. Let's hear it for Obama/Biden!

[09/17/2008 at 04:28 PM]

woo hoo! Totally agree at EVERY level! I struggled with the same thing - trying not to be political on my blog. But I broke down last week. I just felt like I didn't say it, I was contributing to the problem. Good for you!

[09/17/2008 at 05:06 PM]

Amen. Agree. 100%.

[09/17/2008 at 06:37 PM]

Very well said! I agree that it is scary to fathom that McCain/Palin could actually get elected.

[09/17/2008 at 06:58 PM]

Why stop at Attorney General? I think all Republicans out there would agree with me that Jodifur is fully qualified to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court!!!!

[09/17/2008 at 08:21 PM]

You go, girl! Politics suits you!

[09/17/2008 at 08:49 PM]

Bravo for you! I guess it's time for all of us to make a stand via our blogs. I'm more passionate about this election than about any election I can remember- maybe because now I realize what is at stake- everything. So many people offend me by assuming that, as a military wife, I must be a Republican (to which my response is that I'd rather be water boarded than vote for a Republican. My husband feels the same.) Thanks for your post. Whooooo!!!!Obama/ Biden!!!!!

[09/17/2008 at 09:00 PM]

Oh, and ummm...I live in Texas and I can see Mexico from my home. Heee!!!! Vote for me!!!

[Liss]

Well said - thank you. This is the first election in my entire life where I care so much I have been driven to actual tears of frustration. I am actually terrified that there are enough people in this country with blinders on that the Republicans might actually win.

[Jennifer (jnieves23)]

You are so dead on. I pray that more people feel the same way. I also can not fathom a McCain/Palin presidency. The thought gets me sick.

[09/17/2008 at 10:22 PM]

I clicked over from PunditMom, and I'm glad I did. I don't know how Republicans can say "tough luck, you're on your own," to people who need help. I work for a Community Action Agency in the Boston area, we help with housing, fuel assistance, food, and lots of other things. This is also a relatively rich area, but you can practically smell the fear in the air here - people are already afraid that they won't be able to make it through the winter, and many of them make too much money to qualify for the very limited fuel assistance we can provide. The elderly, single mothers, people who have lost their jobs, people who have lost or are about to lose their houses...how can we turn our backs on them?

[09/18/2008 at 12:26 AM]

Great post! The one good thing about Srah Palin is that Jon Stewart has been ON FIRE since she was announced as the running mate!

[09/18/2008 at 01:04 AM]

Great post. Thank you for speaking out. A couple of things I wrote last year are at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/stbI worked my butt off for the Iowa Caucuses but have done almost nothing since. I know that I need to get going again; the stakes are too high not to.

[09/18/2008 at 04:35 AM]

Amen.What bothers me almost more than the political views, is how mean the McCain campaign seems to be. And out of touch. The vilification of liberals is another peeve of mine. Liberal is not a bad word.

[09/18/2008 at 04:51 AM]

I couldn't agree more. I work at a social service agency and I see it all day long. In fact this year we spent all of our grant money for the State and Local Hospitalization that helps people with surgeries and treatments that do not meet a covered group for Medicaid. There is such a need and I don't know how we can tell another human that they don't have enough money to deserve medical care. Our country is in a sad state and we need change!!!

[09/20/2008 at 04:49 AM]

If Mccain wins I might consider moving to Europe! LOL

[loretta]

Great post. I agree with your points about McCain and Palin. We definitely need change, but I don't think Obama and Biden are the candidates for us either. At this point in the game, I think we need a miracle instead.

[greenwithba]

Life is political. We no longer have a choice! Barack or Bust!

[09/22/2008 at 06:11 PM]

Got sent her by a Tweet from Tiffany Washkow which is ridiculous since I read your blog. Just been running around lately and almost missed a truly important post. So well said and so so sad how right you are. Thanks for saying all this J. I've said it before but your county is lucky to have you -- especially the kids.

[09/22/2008 at 06:26 PM]

I didn't want to get political on my blog, at first, either. Now I spend more time working and writing on a political blog than I do writing on my own. At first, when I started writing about politics, I thought, desperate times call for desperate measures.Now, I think, I should have started writing about politics a long time ago. "Politics" is nothing less than the national discussion how we want to shape our nation for the next generation. This discussion has been hijacked for too long by charlatans, manipulators, liars and thieves. It's past time ordinary people took a stand. We OWN our government. It's in the Constitution. WE should get to decide what our government does. But we won't have that opportunity unless we all speak up.

[09/30/2008 at 11:37 PM]

The republicans are not the ones who have cut these programs...the fiscal arm of the govenment is controlled by congress which has been controlled by the democrats for the past two years! Look to the left if you want to cast blame

[09/30/2008 at 11:46 PM]

@cowgirlfromhanna These cuts didn't just happen in the last 2 years. People and programs have been bleeding for a lot longer than that. It's just now finally becoming apparent to those of us lucky enough to not need the programs most of the time. Maybe it's just me, but I suspect the money we're spending abroad is being missed here at home.