10 “Yes We Can!”
No, we’re not saying the catchphrase of the Obama administration is (or isn’t) the solution to America’s economic woes, but the attitude of “Yes We Can (insert monumental task here)!” has defined American history from our nation’s birth. When a small group of middle-class farmers and businessman met in the Pennsylvania State House and signed the Declaration of Independence, the notion of a free and independent democratic government was absurd. But the people – our founding fathers – believed it could be done.
And it was.
When James Monroe signed the Monroe Doctrine into law, embracing the concept of Manifest Destiny and the prophecy that one day the United States would span “from sea to shining sea”, the very thought was mind-boggling. The difficulties in the trek west, the lack of accurate maps and charts, the sustainability of life in the mountainous desert – the obstacles seemed at the time, insurmountable. But the people believed it could be accomplished.
And it was.
When John F. Kennedy declared to the nation and the world in 1961that we would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade, when only one American had been into space just a month before and “Apollo” simply referred to an ancient Greek God of Light, the challenge was terrifying, and by Kennedy’s own admission, an expensive and a difficult task. But the American people believed we could do it.
And we did.
This crisis is the same. For us to overcome these problems, we, as Americans, need to return to this concept that defines us as a people. We need to see this as a setback – a major setback – to our progress, but an obstacle that, like so many others before it, can be overcome. If we will let ourselves believe that, we will, as we have done before, find a way. Yes, we can.
Tags: Economic Crisis, Economy, Fiscal Crisis, Solutions to the Economic Crisis
Nick great read, as you know the party system the republicans have been against goverment control, the democrats have been for more government regulation. Many years ago I read and article that said the third world power would be international corporations. With out government control there is no group that stop such unlimited power, we are left at the mercy of there honesty. I have seen what the last eight years of ruthless abuse they have infilicted upon the world, they have openly stated the world can no longer afford a middle class the carbon footprint is to big. we have seen the biggest drain of wealth from middle class to the wealthy in the history of our country. we seen corporations merge to the point we cannot allow them to fail. Can we recover from this re pression we can and we will because we are america. STAPP
Yes, and as time goes on, the economy is moving further and further in the positive direction. Though the influence of corporations in politics hasn’t been necessarily ALL bad — every group DOES need representation — there has been a loss of balance. Most citizens feel that the government is too big to represent their own interests. This is something that we’re working here at PolitVote to correct.