Looking beyond Election Day
Donald King
Posted: 11.04.2008 / 12:37 AM PST
Almost everyone I know is ready for the phone calls and emails to stop, the negative ads to be ended, and the vote to be tallied. Here in Tractor Country where Republicans dominate and Democrats are always in the minority, there is a growing sense that the GOP may actually lose the White House. It is not something spoken out loud, but everyone reads the polls and sees the news reports that show Obama with a decided advantage on the big map of red and blue states.
Reports also show the Democrats picking up seats in both the House and Senate, which is enough to scare many of the folks up and down main street in the small towns here in northwest Iowa. Their hopes of a President who will add more conservative judges to the Supreme Court, curtain social spending and maintain our troops in Iraq until a stable, pro-American government is established are all seen in jeopardy. Over the last several days, there is a gentle hush that has settled in, as Obama has closed the gap in traditionally red states like Virginia and North Carolina. There is a pending gloom as record numbers of voters are expected at the polls and millions have already cast their ballots.
It is a feeling I know too well as I have been on the opposite side of such elections, like those that gave two terms to Ronald Reagan and the last two elections to George W. Bush. Maybe that is why the Obama supporters like myself are hesitant to celebrate just yet, worried that any number of things could go wrong today. The outcome might come down to Pennsylvania or Ohio, and problems could occur in a voting system that will be pressed to its limits with predictions of record voter turnout.
But despite the voting that will soon come to an end and the announcement of winners and losers, there remains a greater sense of uncertainty this year on both sides than I can ever remember. Despite almost two years of campaiging Republicans, Democrats and Independents, from primaries to the conventions and through the general election, there is a discernible gap that remains between all the political rhetoric and eloquent promises and what we know will occur next. The challenges that lie ahead have been identified and framed in so many different ways, that they have far exceeded any detailed solutions or long-term policy proposals that we can count on in the months and years ahead.
Consider how little we know about the ways any of our newly elected leaders will guide us through a deepening recession, a never-ending “war” against terrorism, skyrocketing health care costs, a rising national debt, a new energy policy, stalemates over immigration, social security, global climate change, and all the other concerns expressed during he campaign. Our best and brightest candidates have only really offered us a glimpse of what they might do through broad generalities and repeated slogans. There is much more that we do not know, than what we can be sure of as the next President and new Congress approach a long list of both domestic and international issues. But what we should recognize after the elections are over, is that any meaningful action will demand a commitment to collaboration, compromise and commitment to changes that that may be unparalled in modern history.
So whatever happens on Election Day, must be seen as the beginning and not the end of a process that will require citizens of all ages, races, and beliefs to work together to apply all our abilities, insights and energy to correct our collective mistakes, right our wrongs, and move forward in unity, to creatively utilize our resources. It is time to put aside narrow partisanship and self-serving interests if we hope to enhance the quality of our lives together.
