We can't fix things with the government.  Every time we do we make something else worse.  We can't fix broken lives and hopelessness and we can't fix a culture of failure with a government program.  We've tried and the results are in.  Things are worse.

But the problems won't go away on their own.  So what is the answer?

Individual commitment.  And a commitment to change.

When we have a Republican (or a Democrat, but it is ironically more likely to be a Republican) who leads with the bully pulpit of the Presidency into the streets of the inner cities and charges every American with making it better, it will get better.

But we won't fix every problem, because some problems don't want to be fixed.

Specifically, Americans with money and Americans with time, which includes every one of us, must get involved with those who are prepared to have a better life. And this is how:

1) Churches and civic leaders should identify those poor, disadvantaged individuals who are desiring a better life and are ready to live a different life.

2) Criteria should be set for assistance, such as: one-year of consistent employment; no arrests and a clean drug test; a year of consistent attendance at some house of worship and an attitude that makes success possible.

3) Individuals, churches and civic organizations should get involved in their lives, paying off debt, providing better clothes, transportation, health care, education and employment contacts.

4) Churches, synagogues and mosques should meet their spiritual needs

5) Businesses should open their job searches to these individuals as their civic duty - providing training and an opportunity

Why worship services?  Because the individual must have all three parts of their lives whole and intact - the spiritual, the physical and the emotional

Why individuals vs. government agencies?  Because government agencies send money that isn't theirs, but individuals have a vested interest in the success of their gift.  And because those who received checks anonymously and impersonally come to resent the giver as they are unknown.

Why employed for a year?  If someone is unable to commit to even a year of consistent employment, no amount of personal help will help.  It will be throwing good money after bad.

The government will make things worse.  Individuals, churches and civic organizations come with flesh and blood and heart.  And the President should lead this effort.

Then the American dream will be open to all Americans who want it.  And we'll all be better for it.

sharp

...when President Bush was talking about balanced budgets and stopping earmarks?

Where were the vetoes over the last six years?

sharp

Was it Bill Clinton who passed NAFTA? Was it the Republicans who passed a Medicare Drug plan and the Civil Rights act of 1964?

Ironically, yes.

Then who can salve the nations wounds and solve the problem of hopelessness in our inner cities.

Republicans, not Democrats.  And right-wingers, at that.

I'll discuss how in my next post.

sharp

So far I don't agree with the few policies he's outlined, though he's given very little detail. He seems like a "big-government has the answers guy", which isn't surprising as his own experience would have led to the conclusion that something absolutely HAS to be done about inequities in our society. But sincerity is not just refreshing, it's shocking. Is it true? Are there old tapes of Obama bad-mouthing a nun and praising Osama Bin Laden somewhere? I truly hope not. Sadly, if there is so much as a cuss-word on a video tape, we'll all know about it.

Here's the thing:  the opportunity to have a President along the lines of a Reagan or a Kennedy that inspires rather than divides is encouraging. If it has to be someone whom I disagree with on policy, let it be someone I admire.

I know that the Democrats and Republicans are mostly alike.  They are political creatures and worthy of disdain for not speaking what they really believe.  But it may be that we'll have a race between mature decent human beings.  No "I created the internet"; no "No new taxes" pledges made in haste (though there's more there than meets the eye, but I digress).

For the Democrats to have the celebration of a lifetime with Obama as nominee and then President, I have no qualms whatsoever.  If it happens, I'll join in the celebration until given a reason not to.  If it's Hillary, the past is hard to wipe away.  And the present is pretty ugly too, though she's quite smart and likely to be tough on the bad guys when she needs to be.

For the Republicans, it's hard to tell what will happen.  My early and likely favorite is Romney.  He's proven himself as a leader, though the criticism of switching positions is as real and as blatant as you can get, I rest on the fact that his current positions line up well with his values (from his religion) and that he's been successful in the Democratic stronghold of Massachusetts - so maybe he can cross the aisle.  He also almost beat Teddy Kennedy, which is like an athiest being elected most-popular at the Billy Graham family reunion.  Not too shabby.

I feel better about the race now than I did when Huckabee was leading and Hillary looked like a shoo-in.  Both terribly divisive.  Both wrong for American, in my opinion. 

Whoever leads will need the support that George Bush only had for a year or so after 9/11.  We can't bring another President into office with the bitter animosity he began with.  Republicans must demonstrate a more noble character than the Democrats if it's Hillary or Obama.  And the winner must be the most noble of them all.

sharp

For one thing, they understand racial issues. Forgetting that they are being ungracefully played out at the moment, Democrats understand the issues and Republicans don't.

Republicans need to walk the streets of the poor areas of town and feel the difference.  It's not just about "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" or even about equal opportunity.  There's no hope.  And there's acceptance, or maybe resignation.  That hopelessness is the fuel of a steep spiral downward.

I don't know much.  I'm white in a mostly-white neighborhood.  Nobody looks at me and makes judgments about their safety when I walk into a hotel or a supermarket late at night.  Nobody pins on me the lowest expectations, which we all know are a self-fulfiling prophecy.  I don't have to prove myself to everyone and I don't get the condescending looks when I make typical human mistakes.  I don't have to wonder if the color of my skin is the reason why I didn't get that job or promotion or why suddenly there were no apartments available.  I don't have to wonder if I'm paying higher interest than someone else with the same income and credit history. 

I don't know much.  But I know that I need to.

Republicans need to feel all of this. They need to immerse themselves in the real issues that Democrats know well.  We all need to know it.

sharp