Finding Hope in Hard Times

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MANY DAYS I SCOOT my chair back from the breakfast table in a daze, stunned and upset at the morning headlines. “Bush Economic Package Heavily Favors Wealthy,” “Research Offers More Evidence of Global Warming,” “Broad Public Support for War,” “Deep Cuts in Social Spending Foreseen.” A rush of emotions swirl through my still-sleepy head as I try to make sense of the world.

It’s not the bad news that gets me. Having lived through Vietnam, Watergate, the energy crisis, Reaganomics, Iran-Contra, Newt Gingrich, the Clinton impeachment, and the 2000 election, I am accustomed to bad news. It’s the lack of effective opposition to what’s going on that troubles me. Again and again, some ill-advised, unjust or outright dangerous initiative out of Washington or corporate America is met with criticism from Democratic politicians and public interest groups. Liberal commentators convincingly (at least to me) dissect why it’s a terrible idea, and there may be some protests. But that’s about it. The public momentum needed to challenge right-wing policies never seems to build, and before long I’m facing another front page photo of George W. Bush celebrating a political victory as I eat my oatmeal.

While dissenting voices can be heard, the powers that be pay little attention to them. In last year’s Congressional elections, politicians skillfully skirted the real problems we face as a nation, squabbling instead over the details of prescription drug proposals and the like. Who from either of the major parties spoke frankly about global warming? Corporate corruption? The cancer epidemic? Our diminished civil liberties? Continuing hunger, poverty, and alienation—at home and around the world? These crises were brought up only occasionally on the campaign trail, and were drowned out by political ads and “sports desk” media coverage focusing on which team would win Congress.

That’s what we’re up against at this stage in American history. Corporations and the military-industrial establishment (a phrase that may sound quaint these days, but is still accurate) have amassed so much power that even the Robber Barons of a century ago would be impressed. At the same time, many of the tried and true methods progressives have used for decades to galvanize citizen action seem to be losing steam.

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