Forty-two days and counting – that’s how far away we are from determining the direction of our nation in Election 2006.
Here in North Carolina, we only have congressional and local races to focus our attention toward.
Yet across America, 33 of 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for grabs, along with 36 of 50 governorships and all 435 U.S. House seats. This is a defining election for our own future and the future of our world.
In case you haven’t heard, Washington, D.C. is Republican territory across all three branches of government … for now.
Of course, Democrats are well aware that they have a prime opportunity to take control of the House and exert their atrophied political muscles.
In large part, they can thank President George W. Bush for his popularity struggles and a divisive war for this opening.
Republicans are campaigning on issues such as the economy, national security and Iranian threats, while Democrats have messages centering on the quagmire of Iraq, healthcare and fair wages.
If you’re like me, most of national politics these days seems like a combination of a Grey’s Anatomy episode mixed with revelations from the Bible.
Partisanship. Fiery speeches. Dramatic scandals. Finger pointing. Fear and hate. Washington, D.C. is consumed by left versus right, liberal versus conservative. If you listen closely, both parties are guilty of claiming America’s fall from greatness and the end of the world if the other party should win.
No, neither party has preached the message we need this political season – optimism.
Ronald Reagan, the beloved all-American U.S. President, often said, “It’s morning in America.” This is the optimism and encouragement we need to hear from our country’s leaders today. Unfortunately, the baby-boomer generation that currently runs our nation has proven to be self-seeking and narrow-minded. Our leaders are frequently short-sighted, forgetting that there will be a world of new citizens long after they leave office.
Don’t believe me? Just look at our energy policies toward oil, rising tuition costs and weakening international relations. What will be left for us and our children?
Luckily, there is a new hope emerging. This budding source of inspiration can be found in Generation Y. That’s right – our generation.
Survey results released last week by Young Voter Strategies, a non-partisan project of George Washington University, found that young adults 18-30 want change in our nation. Fifty-eight percent say that our country is headed in the wrong direction. Education, jobs and the economy and the war in Iraq were listed as the top issues we would like Congress to address during the next two years. Surprisingly, 80 percent of those surveyed reported they are registered to vote. There lies the hope.
Our generation has the power to reform the political landscape of America through the ballot box. I’m not talking about transferring from one party to the other. I’m talking about improving both parties and the poor-to-mediocre candidates they present us.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the sharp-tongued Democratic house leader, is one example of a leader our generation must dismiss. Her comments are always negative and she uses obstructionist tactics in the name of bringing down Republican successes. Perhaps her favorite pastime is creating GOP-bashing quips such as, “Americans will no longer tolerate the Republicans’ continued abuses of power and catering to corporate special interests.” Nancy must go.
Don’t worry. I’m not going to let my own party off the hook. When it comes to embarrassing and ignorant candidates for Congress, North Carolina Republicans have the nation’s prime example – Vernon Robinson. Robinson is well-known for his reckless comments that insinuate his opponent, Rep. Brad Miller, is homosexual. He also compares illegal immigrants in America to aliens from outer space. Robinson can only resort to spreading fear and stirring hate. If you are an unfortunate citizen who gets to choose between Robinson and Miller in November, I pity you.
Yes, Election 2006 is about difficult choices. We, as the youthful optimists, must communicate our disdain of extreme partisanship, selfishness, and short-sightedness.
It’s still morning in America. There just happen to be a few dark clouds in the way.
Our generation is full of future statesmen who will become the next Jeffersons, Roosevelts and Reagans.
Election 2006 should focus on sustainability, peace, economic prosperity, compassion and security. Is there anyone else out there still dreaming in red, white and blue?
E-mail Forrest at [email protected]