From our betrayal we must move forward and press for the change that is so urgent to our nation and world. Our environmental problems, joblessness, and poverty give us no time to mourn.
Thrice Barack Obama has betrayed us. He betrayed us with a financial system bailout that lined the pockets of bankers and financiers and left us and our descendants saddled with debt. He betrayed us again when he led us into an escalation of an unwinnable war in Afghanistan, opened the treasury to the rich merchants of war and again saddled us and our descendants with debt. He betrayed us when he did not fight for the public option and for our cherished value of universal access to quality and affordable health care. Instead he supported a program that will further enrich insurance corporation executives and shareholders while working citizens struggle to buy food and shelter and pay legally required insurance premiums.
It is clear our nation and our planet depends upon us fighting for a more principled and progressive candidate in 2012.
The challenges of the future are great. First, we must address our own cherished values in our nation and struggle to make those values part of our lives because our own sloth and gluttony present a greater national security threat than any external enemy. Each day we dig our graves with our teeth and the help of Mr. Knife, Mr. Fork, and Ms. Spoon. Increasing numbers of us are obese to the point of disability. We need a president who is honest enough to address these issues in public education programs that reach children in kindergarten to seniors.
Next we must address the increasing inequality that threatens our unity as one nation and fosters hatred and social unrest. A society built on too much inequality ruptures sooner rather than later. We need a president who can and will help implement progressive programs to reverse increasing inequality. Access to quality education, health care, housing, and nutrition needs to be viewed as right.
What candidate, though, can be chosen in times such as these when the challenges presented by our own failings and the environment are so great and so urgent? Is Russ Feingold that right candidate?