Shades of Blue: Of Lives and Livelihood
Article in the Nogales International
December, 2006
Juanita Havill, Sonoita, Arizona
Why did the Democrats win control of both the House and Senate in the November mid-term elections? Political analysts in the media have been reluctant to settle on one explanation for the Republican defeat. They mention without emphasis, the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War. Then they suggest other factors: the illegal activities of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his connection to many Republican lawmakers (although some Democrats were implicated, too), Representative Mark Foley's improper behavior toward Congressional pages under the "unwatchful" eye of House leadership, and the anger and disaffection of fiscal conservatives who wanted nothing to do with the largest deficit in US history.
I have my own theory about the causes of the major power shift in Congress, and it can be summed up in two words: lives and livelihoods. American voters, Democrats especially, but Independents and Republicans, too, in increasing numbers, began to pay attention. They didn't like what they saw and voted accordingly.
The Iraq War, the name used by the media to describe the US invasion and occupation of a country that was never confirmed to constitute a major threat to Americans, is costing lives. As I write today (December 11, 2006), military fatalities from Iraq total 2,937. This number represents soldiers who have died in Iraq; no record is available for those who have died elsewhere from injuries suffered in Iraq. Forty-six soldiers have been killed already this month. The official count of wounded military personnel is 21,778. Iraqi civilians have suffered tremendous casualties, even by the conservative record of 45,000 to 55,000 at Bodycount.org.
Each soldier who has died has a family, relatives, distant relatives, and friends, all of whom are affected in some way by the soldier's death. The lost and shattered lives of our fellow Americans must weigh heavily on the consciences of voters. Our nation would be an uncaring and ungrateful people if we ignore, forget, or cease to focus our attention on these sacrifices. We would be an immoral people if we did not consider the deaths of innocents of other nations resulting from our actions. Americans do care. I believe their compassion explains why 77% of American voters believe today that the president's Iraq strategy is not working. Since the president has shown little inclination to change, American voters want Congress to do something about it.
Americans also demonstrated in the mid-term election that they are paying attention to serious domestic issues that have an impact on their livelihoods. The Iraq invasion and continued occupation are costing billions and diverting attention and energy from solving the serious problems of energy dependence, decreasing standard of living of average Americans, increasing health care costs, failing and challenged schools, and poverty-level wages. Most Americans are not wealthy enough to benefit from the Administration's tax cuts. Those who do benefit are cushioned from the problems affecting those with middle and low incomes. Americans are especially concerned about making ends meet when wages remain stagnant, health care costs go up, and corporate employers cease to offer health care, even at expensive rates, to their workers and retirees.
With livelihoods in mind voters in Arizona and five other states chose to raise the minimum wage; one of the states, Missouri, opted to require a living wage, not quite the same thing, as anyone trying to live on the current federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour will confirm. Across the nation voters elected or re-elected candidates who put health care reform high on their priority lists, such as Arizona's Raul Grijalva, chosen again to represent CD District 7. Voters decided that Washington needs senators and representatives who will challenge the failed health policies with innovative plans to fix what doesn't work.
We know from the oil price hikes of the past two years what an impact energy costs have on our livelihoods. Newly elected Gabrielle Giffords of CD District 8 is one of many victorious Democrats who seek to promote renewable energy. "We can start by making smart investments in renewable sources such as solar, wind and sugar. We also can raise fuel efficiency standards to reduce the oil we consume," Giffords wrote in the Tucson Citizen (December 11, 2006).
The midterm election is over. We voters have given House and Senate majorities, no matter how slim, to the Democrats. We have listened to the words of our newly elected senators and representatives and noted their pledges, promises, and proposed plans. Now it is time to pay attention to the actions of our elected officials as if our lives and livelihoods depend on it. They do.
