Obama and McCain met Monday in Chicago to discuss working together to “fix” up our country:
After the meeting, Obama and McCain issued a joint statement saying:
"At this defining moment in history, we believe that Americans of all parties want and need their leaders to come together and change the bad habits of Washington so that we can solve the common and urgent challenges of our time."
"It is in this spirit that we had a productive conversation today about the need to launch a new era of reform where we take on government waste and bitter partisanship in Washington in order to restore trust in government, and bring back prosperity and opportunity for every hardworking American family," it said. "We hope to work together in the days and months ahead on critical challenges like solving our financial crisis, creating a new energy economy, and protecting our nation's security."
"It is in this spirit that we had a productive conversation today about the need to launch a new era of reform where we take on government waste and bitter partisanship in Washington in order to restore trust in government, and bring back prosperity and opportunity for every hardworking American family," it said. "We hope to work together in the days and months ahead on critical challenges like solving our financial crisis, creating a new energy economy, and protecting our nation's security."
As Americans, we need to take a page from their book and determine to work together in the struggle to save our beloved country. Ranting and raging all over the blogosphere accomplishes little as does resting on our laurels now that the election is over – we need to make our voices heard in Washington; conservatives and liberals and everyone in between. Don’t like a proposed policy? Let them know about it! How? Read on…
Hat tip to Libby over at the Impolitic for steering me to the new Obama website where, if you move your cursor over the agenda tab, you get a drop down box of issues. Click on the issue and you will be taken to a page outlining the administration’s plans and ideas. On the right of each page is a blue box for submitting your own ideas and thoughts. And if you prefer to contact your state senator here is the website to find them.
We are at a most critical time in our history and our very survival hangs in the balance. I am reminded of an old typewriting course practice drill (who else remembers those?) “Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country.” Not by flinging insults and trading barbs but by participating in the political process. We have little to lose and everything to gain by trying to work together. This is my country, this is your country, this is OUR country.
Thanks, Rocky, for bringing this to our attention. This could be one of the great innovations in participatory government ... leveraging the Internet to give real-time empowerment to citizens ... and bypass the role of lobbyists and special interests. Cool! I can't wait to see how this plays out.
ReplyDeleteP.S. And thank Libby too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Rocky and for passing on the Obama website. I hope everyone does submit their priorities and ideas to the website. Participation is what makes democracy work.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great 21st century concept! We were promised a more accessible, more transparent government - and so, it seems, they meant it. 8pus, I too can't wait to see how it plays out. It's certainly an improvement.
ReplyDeleteYeah, its great. But if you're one of the thousands of citizens living overseas who voted for Obama, you can't use the feedback forms on the site because they only accept US zipcodes. Silly, because we should be able to comment and make suggestions, too.
ReplyDelete