In all the media chatter about the election, two words are glaringly missing: The Economy.
Apparently newscasters and pundits assume that the President's re-election indicates that the economy is magically healthy or at least a low priority. Everyone must be employed in well paying jobs and participating in the "recovery".
My anecdotal evidence indicates otherwise. When I talk to small businesses, many ask "Where is this recovery that everyone is talking about? I sure haven't felt it." Recent college graduates continue looking for employment, and for the "over 50" worker the situation is dire. Some have been trying to find work for years, and others are employed in part-time low paying jobs that need to be supplemented by savings to make ends meet. With few exceptions no one much seems to care.
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Particularly distressing is that Governor Brown refused to sign a bill passed by the California Assembly and Senate that prohibited job postings from stating that the unemployed need not apply.
What happened to the Democrats of my parents' generation? I am nostalgic for more authenticity and idealism and less sugar-high sales.
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It is time for Democrats to act so that the struggling, stressed person feels that he/she is honestly being helped
It is time to acknowledge that amidst the "Recovery" millions of our fellow citizens remain out of work or barely surviving with one or more part time jobs.
It is time for a Jobs' Program that will put Americans back to work. The program should be accountable at the local level so that anyone unemployed may work, even if the job is transitional until the economy heals.
It is time for politicians to communicate to corporations that sustainability goes far beyond the environment or marketing rhetoric. It is about being an integral part of the community tapestry - doing whatever possible to put local residents back to work - especially those that are older, yet educated, experienced, and energetic.
It is time to acknowledge that in the rush to pass the Affordable Care Act there are many loopholes, exceptions and "grandfathered" clauses that benefit health insurance companies and NOT the consumer. I would bet serious money that the bill was nearly entirely written by health insurance company lobbyists and lawyers. It is time to discuss why the passage of the bill is causing premiums to skyrocket. It is time to ensure that the law does not result in dreadfully increased costs and poorer and less available care - the exact "unintended consequences" it was supposed to cure. It is time to amend the Act so that it is truly in the consumer's best interest.
It is time to acknowledge that not everyone in San Mateo County makes $200,000+ per year and that the huge discrepancy in pay is going to cause extreme hardship in housing and a fraying of the social fabric.
It is time for the Democratic Party to return to the values of my parents' generation and help those who struggle. In 2012 that covers most of us.
