Monday, April 28, 2008

The First Step in Becoming a States Powers' Liberal: Temper Your Concern With the Presidential Race

Picture this: A 5o something year old self-proclaimed liberal. He spent elementary school watching JFK's rise and tragic demise. He spent his teen years admiring counterculture and the possibilities of the Great Society. And then, when he finally got to vote for President, his singular voice was not enough to unseat Richard Nixon. He got a brief shot at redemption with Jimmy Carter and a long time to simmer his frustrations with Reagan and Bush. Bill Clinton seemed like a blessing and once again things made sense, but then Bush 2 and we know the rest.

One would think that the 50 something year old liberal would have learned a thing or two from the roller coaster of political emotions that he has spent the better part of four decades riding on, but alas what's the main daydream racing through this liberal's mind?...."ahhh, if we could only get a new President, everything would be better..." This unflinching faith in the power of the Executive Branch to lead us to the Promised Land is one of the most significant factors limiting the liberal movement. In simpler terms, the rotating name game in the Executive Branch reminds me of a saying my uncle used to throw around---"He's just putting Brut on his B.O. when he really needs a shower."

No matter what type of perfume you throw on the thing, the odor of a rotting, bloated federal government will eventually break through just in time, conveniently, for the next round of deodorant, uh, elections. The real hope for democracy lies not in the White House or in the halls of Congress, but on your State House steps and in your City Council chambers. The next stage in our democratic experiment needs to be a renewed focus on the possibilities of states' powers. The time is right to embrace states' powers, but it will require the liberal to have faith in local organizing and planning. It will not require a full rejection of the federal government, but will necessitate an acceptance that the federal government is not almighty and a willingness to advocate for a more balanced role as far as the states are concerned. It is a leap of faith--one that will be difficult for the liberal who has difficulty acknowledging that others may have an opinion that is as valid as his own to take, but one that has become necessary. Realizing the influence of States' Powers Liberalism will be a gradual process, but taking the steps will be easier if you get off the roller coaster for a while and walk on level ground.

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