Every day brings an announcement of more layoffs and business closings. Look in the mirror to see who is responsible for this mess. We’ve allowed our leaders and the lobbyists to run the country off a cliff.
This recession is the result of policies we all supported, fought, or ignored for selfish reasons. Some of us just gave up and let the bad guys win.
The last election showed us that we can make a difference. If we don’t use our new power to help each other and live what we know is right, we’ll never get out of this mess. Now is the time to demand policies that provide opportunity for those who are willing and able to work, support the weak, and protect the taxpayers. In addition to the obvious need for more regulation and oversight in the financial services industry, here are other ways to move forward:
Help cities build mixed income, green communities. Seattle’s High Point neighborhood is a good example. High Point is a 100-acre master planned community. Its energy efficient condos and townhomes are available for sale or for rent at market and subsidized rates. Members of the community mingle with each other in 20 acres of parks and playgrounds, on front porches, or along tree-lined sidewalks and trails. The library and community health center are already open for business. A community rec center and neighborhood shopping are in the works.
Place high quality public charter and magnet schools in each community. Parents often relocate to ensure that their children receive a good education. A return to neighborhood schools will increase parent involvement and student achievement. Students can walk to schools in their neighborhoods, which will reduce or eliminate the need for busing. Busing students across town produces obese children, wastes taxpayer dollars, and fragments communities. Most people want to surround themselves with people who have similar values, goals, and experiences. That may not be right or politically correct, but it’s human nature. Even those of us who think we’re open-minded like to surround ourselves with other open-minded people.
Increase funding for research. Our country is falling behind industrialized and some emerging nations because we don’t value deep thought. We’ll need deep thinkers to develop the technologies and processes that will help us get out of this mess.
Develop trade and foreign policies that benefit others without hurting ourselves. Foreign aid workers, missionaries, diplomats, and military commanders agree that world conflicts cannot be solved with military might alone. People around the world share many of our same concerns. Most of them want to earn a living, educate their children, gain and maintain health, and live in healthful surroundings. By exporting the technologies and teaching them the processes we develop to meet our own challenges in these areas, we can reduce conflicts and reduce the trade deficit without abusing workers in this country or others.
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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.
