THE VIEW FROM HERE-The President stood his ground. The Democrats stood their ground. Eighty-seven House Republicans stood by their consciences and turned the Hastert Rule on its head. The Government shut-down is over and we didn’t fall off the default cliff. But for how long?!
The entire process starts over again in the new year.
Eighty-seven Republicans displayed their “profiles in courage” despite constant threats of being primaried by virtually every extreme right organization. We needed their votes to overcome a looming crisis, and they came through.
On the other hand was, perhaps, the even greater courage and tenacity displayed by the Democrats not to cave, not to give in! The President emphatically stated he was not going to negotiate, period, and he kept his word.
Yes, the last time this national predicament occurred, there were similar threats of catastrophe not only to the U.S. economy but, as a consequence, to that of the rest of the world. Yes, the President seemed to capitulate at that time (not that I personally ever thought that), but what he really did was to demonstrate what the word “courage” is all about. He did not waver or flinch. He did what was morally right—keeping the Government open, the economy growing, the deficit diminishing, making sure people were getting paid and receiving the benefits they had been promised, and making certain the world would not sink into an even great abyss from where it already found itself.
That was then, but not this time! The Republicans were going to learn that “you can’t fool (us) again.” The precedent has been set: Republicans, do what’s right for this country—for the greater good—or see yourselves self-destruct. See yourselves hand over to the Democrats, the Senate, the House, and a stronger, more powerful Democratic Presidency.
In the meantime, congratulations go to both Democrats and Republicans for maintaining the image of greatness America has so carefully honed over the centuries. Are we an “exceptional” country? I don’t think so. Every country believes in its own excellence. Sometimes, how we describe ourselves to the rest of the world does produce an effect opposite to what we intend. Let’s work on not being misinterpreted and/or on reconsidering how we think of ourselves. Our words do have consequences. We are a great country, but the greatest ever?
The truth, despite or because of how the international community perceives us, is just how indisputable our commitment to other nations is. It is that relationship with the rest of the world that makes us realize how genuinely dependent on each other we are. The President and Congress re-established that principle only last week!
By passing and signing into law legislation to re-open the Government and to pay our debts, we are making America a better place and, at the same time, fostering a more positive response by the rest of the world to our decision-making.
We can now see a better image of ourselves as we once more peer through the looking glass.
(Rosemary Jenkins is a Democratic activist and chair of the Northeast Valley Green Coalition. She also writes for CityWatch.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 85
Pub: Oct 22, 2013