Your Voice

I spent some time talking the other day with a group of four relatively mainstream suburban Connecticut moms. What I mean by mainstream is fiscally conservative, socially progressive (Democrat and Republican) women who understand the important role government plays in our lives, but at the same time, are concerned about what happens to our money when the government gets it. The topic of conversation ….. TAXES, Taxes, taxes!

One woman brought up the book the “Greatest Generation” (most of our grandparents) and how all of society was asked to contribute or sacrifice for the sake of the war. But for us…well?!?! One of the women had a daughter who was learning about WWII and how the country sacrificed at many levels to win the war, she pointedly asked her mother one night, “ Mom, what are we doing to help win the war?” She said, “Well honey, the President told us to go shopping.” We all laughed but then realized this was not that untrue.

In the book, The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman writes about that point. He says, “when we got hit with 9/11, it was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to summon the nation to sacrifice, to address some of the pressing fiscal, energy, science and education shortfalls that we had let slide. But our President did not summon us to sacrifice. He summoned us to go shopping.” The other women in the group had not read the book but they certainly understood.

Government costs associated to the war go up and revenue coming in goes down because of tax cuts. So decisions are being made at the federal level to reconcile some of this by gutting social policy spending whenever possible? The rest of the unreconciled debt will just be left for someone else.

I guess we ended up in a sort of melancholy mood commenting on the future we are allowing to be created for our kids. One friend commented that those in the “greatest generation” would be remembered for their sacrifice and what would we be remembered for, would our generation have a label? “Selfish… Just went shopping!”

I recently had the opportuntiy to talk with several locally elected officals about Economic Development.

It is an interesting subject and my conversations had a surprising outcome. While other states across the country have taken economic development seriously, for some reason Connecticut, I am told, has not been paying attention. While other states are actively and even agressively working to steal our jobs and our corporate tax base, we have sat idilly by. A governor of one of these states was actually quoted saying, “the great thing about Connecticut, (in terms of economic development efforts) is that they do not even know there is a competition going on.” That is how other state leaders view us. As a state that assumes we have so much going for us that we do not have to work at it to compete for our jobs.

At the same time I have learned, that the legislature and other elected officials do not really get involved. This seems counter intuitive. Shouldn’t our locally elected officals know, care and fight for the corporations in their districts as well as the people. I am told that part of the problem is that the centralized economic development office does not provide a structure to allow true regional development projects to take flight. One candidate for Governor, Dan Malloy, explained the current bureaucracy and its shortfalls to me the other night. I was impressed at his idea and plan to bring new statewide community development initiatives to Connecticut. Regionally, appointed boards could develop and implement plans while taking advantage of federal funding that exists to pay for many initiatives. He suggested checking out his web site for more details. I think I will!

I recognize that the issue of the war in Iraq has almost nothing to do with my campaign and if elected as state representative I will not be in a position to make a differnece on the outcome, that being said, alot of people are talking about the war.  I learned recently, from a friend, that my willingness to talk about the war simply gives people an opportuntiy to learn about me.  And that, he says, is important!!

 Yesterday, for the first time, I could not watch the news coverage. I had to turn off the TV not because I do not support the troops but because I am simply horrified at the current situation in Iraq.  I sort of numbly watch and wonder how did we get to this point, how did the very smart people advising the president and the president make so many mistakes and miscalculations?  I pray that Iraqs new democracy will take root and grow stability but I worry because I do not see it happening and I wonder…. what have we done!!

 I have to be totally honest, as I was with my friend, I am one of those mainstream soccer moms that put my concerns for my family's and our country's security first.  I reluctantly supported the war in Iraq, because, well … I thought we had no choice and I thought it was a just war based on the threat that Saddam and his croonies posed.  In that line of thinking I also thought, our president was making a tough decision and I was proud he was willing to make it and stand up for us.

At some point I started to question, like many people, and I started to read more that has been published by peace oranizations and those speaking out against the war.  Over time I learned alot, changed my mind and realized there are always options against agressive actions…  against war!

I receive a great political magazine with articales written by clergy of all different faiths.  I came across a quote in a story that has stayed with me.  Maybe it was instumental in changing my thoughts?  It said, Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."  It is the word PEACEMAKER.  It is at first glance just a funny word choice, but at closer look you realize is is an action word that speaks to the leaders of our world and to those that are in the position to work to bring peace. 

The reason I like that quote is it turns out I have learned that the path to peace .. to non-war .. is more difficult.  It is a more difficult option and requires great diplomatic skill, patience and determination. We had an awesome opportunity after 9/11 to become PEACEMAKERS of the world, we didn't apply those skills to the situation in Iraq and now……..I wish we had!