Are Citizens Willing to Become Fully Engaged to Bring about A Change in our Society? Written by Ms. Janet Hanson- Salina
While a new year always brings new promise, this year, 2011, seems ominous and worrisome. We’ve become a meaner society, one that too often defines success solely as profitability. The violent act in Tucson has marred the New Year. I think New York Times columnist Bob Herbert has the greatest clarity on this situation when he writes, “For whatever reasons, neither the public nor the politicians seem to really care how many Americans are murdered — unless it’s in a terror attack by foreigners. The two most common responses to violence in the U.S. are to ignore it or be entertained by it. The horror prompted by the attack in Tucson on Saturday will pass. The outrage will fade. The murders will continue.” (NY Times, 1-10-11) I would suggest that this same theme of meanness is what we can anticipate with full implementation of Mr. Brownback’s budget. Clearly, Mr. Brownback has a majority vote consensus. He has a willing and complicit Senate and House. Let the austerity measures begin.
The organization United for a Fair Economy recently released a report titled State of Dream 2011: Austerity for Whom? In it, they describe austerity measures as generally including reducing public investments, cutting public benefits and rolling back government services. Tax cutting or not taxing those who can best afford it are often part of the picture. They demonstrate that these measures disproportionately harm people of color. I think it is fair to construe that they harm lower income Kansas families. Lower income families rely more on programs such as unemployment and have fewer savings to fill! the breech. Public sector jobs have been traditional venues for advancement. Additionally tax cuts generally flow more toward higher income whites and widen the racial income divide. They swell the ranks of those in poverty.
We as a people should thoughtfully ask ourselves, “What is our expectation of government?” With burgeoning corporate influence on elections and through well funded lobbying, governing bodies overwhelmingly represents the interests of big businesses and corporations. Particularly at the federal level, I have no reasonable expectation that the Kansas delegation is influenced by my thoughts, worries or concerns when their constituency is so clearly their prime campaign donors. Mr. Brownback is clearly a product of that system of governing—government by and for the corporations.
Salinans need to ask themselves, “Do I expect government to help the people, the governed? Or do I expect it to grow more wealth for the wealthy at the expense of the poor?” If we say, as a community, that educating the children of Salina is a priority, one for which we hold the District accountable, do we think de-funding the system and demanding high accountability is truly consistent? If we say that we value our older folks, our vulnerable populations, our poor, do really think that further decimating social structures will allow that to happen?
Mr. Brownback, through media highlighted appearances at blood donor drives and food banks prior to his inauguration, is arguably signaling that he thinks the care of the poor and the less fortunate is a matter of voluntary charity, even, as public policy directly creates more people in this condition. His political agenda signals a devotion to transferring more wealth to the wealthy. Statistics reveal that nationally we’ve recreated owner-worker wage gaps not seen since the eve of the great depression. These policies do nothing to ameliorate that.
In honesty, our two party system is not helping us here. Both parties are far too beholden to large corporate donations for campaigns. Change in the system is not likely to come from within the system.
In our society peaceful change is desirable and, I believe, possible. But this is only possible if each citizen fully engages and thinks of themselves as a person in a community with a vested interest in the health and welfare of others in their community. Get to know your neighbors. Ask actively how we can help each other. At every level demand more from your government than granting favors to big business that are fantastically supposed to trickle down to “the people”. Demand that businesses in communities and the state fairly contribute to tax coffers to support the infrastructures that support them.
It’s true that this framework is less likely to grant great riches to a few people. But it can grant a livelihood, dignity and health to many. Communities should care about that.
Janet Hanson
Salina, KS