Activism: Life's Hyperlink

There's no better cure-all for cynicism than action, and I highly recommend it on the ethereal as well as the local level.

Currently, I find myself engaged in a handful of causes, all either directly or indirectly related to our local schools. My town, once a dirt street-filled spot with few services, has blossomed into a lovely little arts community. And we happen to have a terrific school district, despite the fact that we've had to cut $3.3 million from our budget over the past two school years. Our state, like most, is finding its coffers woefully inadequate to handle services and needs, and the next 12 years look especially grim.

Now in the face of all that turmoil one could just give up and say there's nothing to be done. Or one could decide that the picture of our future must be altered to a new reality. Just as I've rattled on about the changes our workforce and our politicians need to undertake, I understand that those changes have to occur of the local level as well: We must all sweep in front of our own doorsteps in order for the world to be clean, as the saying goes.

So I urge you to do whatever it is that you can--and your time is worth a lot more than even money--to sort out the debris of your doorstep. Replace complacency with action; use your vision to overcome the trap of feeling lost without control. You'd be amazed at what you have to offer and how open people will be to receiving your gifts and ideas.

To my mind there is nothing better I could do with my time than to work for our kids and their education. Garrison Keillor famously noted that: "Nothing you do for children is ever wasted."

We've all likely contributed to some cause or other: Purchased a brick for the new library, a stepping stone for the main street renewal project, a tile for the clock tower. So when you look over your ballots this November (those of you in the US, that is) consider all your local initiatives in the same light. Give them a close read and support the ones that resonate with you.

There's no more important legacy than our kids', our town's, our nation's, and our world's future. If we all give a little of whatever we can, we will make a difference in that future forecast. And we can often do so for far less than the cost of football cleats, a soccer uniform, or a martial arts class.

Bicker, Kicker, or Schticker?

In an unprecedented move following another unprecedented move, the President has capitulated to Speaker Boehner on the scheduling of the jobs speech before the joint chambers of Congress.

The President had wanted to unveil his jobs plan next Wednesday--the first day Congress returns from the August recess--but has agreed to delay by one day, in a bow to the Republican Debate in California, also set for Wednesday night, in which three members of Congress are involved.

But as Thursday night is the big kickoff of the 2011-2012 NFL season, with a much anticipated opener featuring the New Orleans Saints against the Green Bay Packers, one wonders is the President will have much of an audience outside of the confines of Congress.

And therein lies just one of the difficulties in creating jobs in America. Attention span. Sure, we're interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of two of our branches of government and we should be, but if it is this daunting of a task just to discuss our biggest trial as a nation, how can we expect to ever begin to address the problem?

The President has a job. The members of Congress have jobs. The NFL players have jobs. And we'll spend our attention discussing all of them rather than take the time to hear what (if any) decent plan anyone has for all the people out there who do not have jobs. I'm guilty of it myself--just read last night's posting.

Blame the 24-hour news cycle. Blame bloggers. Blame our polarized politics. But somewhere in the detritus of all that blaming, we need to start laying claim to the problem: Folks are hurting and need to know that Washington has a plan to help them in their suffering.

So is it bicker, the kicker, or the schticker? Who will garner our taxed attention span? If all were scheduled on the same evening, at the same time, Vegas odds would likely be on the side of the NFL. Nielsen ratings would no doubt bear that out. All the politicians would be pretty far out of the running.

Football and politics are my two favorite games, so I am somewhat invested in this argument. The GOP contenders have their views. Michele Bachmann explains the conundrum this way: "Either he (the President) wants to distract the American people so they don't hear him or he doesn't want them to hear what the next President of the United States is going to say about (his) job plan." Jon Huntsman calls it "political theatrics" maintaining that if you "don't have a plan you fall back on political theatrics." Herman Cain referred to the situation as first being "political mischief", then postulates that the Administration "sat back and said 'What if our ratings are less than the Debate's?'--I don't think they wanted to play that card."

And I have my view: I want it all. I want to see the Republican Debate. I want to hear the President's plan. I want to watch the Saints play the Packers. And I have a DVR to facilitate all of that. But do I/we have the attention span to take it all in without mixing it up? (Jobs? You mean Steve?)

Well President Drew Brees will, hopefully, go big with his debate package before halftime. And if it comes down to overtime, my money's on the Elephants' kicker going wide right.

Love Letters

Dear Mr. President,
I don't think we have anything terribly important next Wednesday night--the kids will probably have homework, the boy will blow his horn, and some volunteer event may come up--so we'd love to have you over to give your speech here.

I'm sorry that Mr. Boehner wouldn't come out to play and I do not want you to feel left out. Besides when you're through, you can laugh at me yelling at the competition on the televised debate. Husband has beer in the fridge, the dogs would love to meet Bo, and the kids would all get along great--big backyard, treehouse, etc.

Hope to see you,
cockeyedsusan

Dear Mr. Boehner,
You obviously didn't go to an elementary school with the "if you aren't gonna invite the whole class do not bring the invitations into the classroom" rule. Dude, you can't shut somebody down like that so publicly.

You come from a big family, you know how feelings can get hurt. The man has you over all the time, takes you out golfing, and you cannot make time to have him over to your place? It just seems rude.

I know he may have questionable timing--I get that--but even if he is playing a game it's just making you look like the bad guy. You might wanna reconsider, or at least come up with a better excuse. (I don't think doing your hair will work, maybe applying that deck stain you use as a skin tone would be more believable?)

So be a dear and let the President know that it's not him, it's you. Otherwise he's gonna think you're just not that into him. Then all the other legislators will be all talking smack and cutting him looks. You know how they all stop talking sometimes when you enter the room. Yeah, ouch.

Thanks for considering,
cockeyedsusan

P.S. Dear Readers: Is the President playing politics? I can't decide. On the one hand you have the lack of respect for the Office of the President of the United States of America and on the other hand you have a debate that was planned six months ago. Sure, the respect issue outweighs a debate, but why stir the pot? Maybe it's POTUS' only open night next week. Whaddaya think? I hope the answer leads to a good jobs package with teeth. No matter what the date, it cannot be soon enough for the unemployed.