Dancing in the Street - Scott Brown

Here’s an article from a British website:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6995921.ece

A quotation from the article:

Mr. Brown said voters were fed up. “The main thing they want is good government back and to be part of the process,” he said. “I think they sent a very, very powerful message that business as usual is not going to be the way we do it.”

We’ve all heard a lot of analysis, with much emphasis on left vs. right and Republican vs. Democrat. Scott has been out talking with people, and the message he brings back carries a lot of credibility. Obama promised no more business as usual, and the perception, despite all his initiatives, is that the way we do business didn’t change at all.

Obama can’t change things by himself, but he and the people around him have clearly underestimated the anger and anxiety voters feel.

What counts as good government?

·        Honest

·        Open

·        Responsive to citizens’ needs

·        Effective leadership

·        Competent

One looks at the process of health care reform, and the government does not meet one of these standards. The same goes for financial reform and stewardship of the economy.

It started when the Democrats arrogantly told the Republicans in Congress last spring, “You don’t want to play ball with us? Good. Then fuck off.” Republicans bear some of the blame for that, but with a little more patience the Democrats could have found some Republican legislators who were willing to talk.