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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2011)
13 Street roots April 15, 2011 After months of budget fights, one victor emerge^: Rhetoric BY HEATHER LYONS “Just as families across the nation do every day, we had to make tough choices ast week when Democrats and and begin to live within our means, but we Republicans in Congress were out- also had clear lines that protected the press-conferencing each other on who investments we need to win the future.” — was more fiscally competent and who cared White House blog, April 9. more about the American people and our Your household might be different, but I country’s future, I got angry several times. tend not to protect investments to “win” the I yelled at the TV, rolled my eyes at the future. Also, my domestic expenditures computer, debated with my partner, and greatly outweigh my foreign ones. Not that I with some inanimate objects too (the wouldn’t like to go abroad more. It’s just a inanimate objects are easier sometimes). matter of practicality. Also, I don’t get to Here’s what I know. This was not a fight raise my debt ceiling. It’s a bad metaphor, about balancing the budget If it were, there it makes fun of my intelligence, and it needs would have been serious negotiations about to stop. changing the tax code, letting some tax cuts “Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer said expire, and reducing spending in a variety of the cuts are ‘across the board. Everybody Federal agencies, including a real look at gives some pain.’” - CBS Face the Nation, defense and major reform of entitlement April 4. programs. It was also not about Democrats, I watched the clip just to make sure this protecting the more vulnerable. The actions wasn’t made up. It’s not, and it’s reposted that allowed the Bush tax cuts to continue on CBS and other websites. I’ll give points and the administration’s budget, which came to the Senator for being honest, though. out in February, already indicated that poor Congress and the White House are passing and sick people were not a priority on the pain, to be sure. (reductions in Community Development “We cannot play chicken with the economy in this way. It’s just too darn risky. Block Grant, Community Health Centers, It’s not appropriate.” - White House Press etc.). No, as I see it, this was not a fight for our Secretary, Jay Carney, on raising the debt long-term future; this was a fight for the ceiling vote (the next big budget/policy next election. This was and will continue to fight) - Huffington Post April 11 (and reported on in different fashions in many be a fight about which party has the best rhetoric to win the support of the American other places). When I think of playing chicken, I think people in 2012. I’m all for balancing the of when I played with other kids in a pool — budget and will continue to, support funding people on other people’s shoulders, trying for agencies and programs I believe in. to knock each other off into the water. And, In the meantime, the Democrats in office andthe Democratic Party are losing the you know what? It WAS darned risky. Someone could get a bruise^ or water up rhetorical battle, and possibly 2012. Here their nose. I’m not sure if it was ever are some reasons why: C O N TR IB U TIN G C O LU M N IS T M Heather Lyons lives in Portland, an d works fo r the Corporation for Supportive H ousing’s N ational C onsU ltingand Training Team to promote systems and policy change to create supportive housing to end homelessness. Prior to this position, Ms. Lyons led the City o f Portland’s efforts to end homelessness, with numerous partners, under the policy framework o f Home Again: A Id-Year Plan to E n d Homelessness. inappropriate. Though I’m sure there are college versions that might be. Finally, this gem. “There are going to be plenty of times when you won’t be able to reach common ground and you have to be in pugilistic mode, but you can’t view any kind of agreement with the other side as weakness.” — David Plouffe (Obama Senior Advisor, quoted in NY tithes), reposted on Huffington Post April 11. This one is worth breaking down a little for its numerous offenses against rhetoric. He loses on a) wonkiness (I had to read this sentence three times before I understood it), b) using words that reduce impact (“pugilistic mode” - in addition to sounding much weaker than “a fight” it sounds silly and academic), and c) paternalism (by implying I shouldn’t view things a certain way, that I shouldn’t disagree with what happened or consider it weak). Even if it’s blatantly false, the Republicans know how to use rhetoric to move their party and frustrate the opposing party. The Democrats spend so much time fighting back, that we cannot develop our own story, our own rhetoric — not just to win an election, but to do right in other situations, like budget fights. Can we stop being individuals who are constantly analyzing what’s wrong and criticizing each other as much as the other party and actually be organized enough to win? Can the Democratic Party tell stories that translate the rhetoric to move the American people? I’m not sure, but I’m not sure we can make any real progress with the approach we currently have either. I’d like to thank all the people who attended the Powell's Smallpresspalooza. I sold ten copies of the book I read from (Jason Breedlove 1065131) as well as several copies of a fictional short story I’ve written called “The Junkie Manifesto.” I also gave away over 30 copies of my dally desktop calendar. Reading Frenzy and Powell’s carry both of my books as well as my short story. My latest book and short story are also on Kindle. My book of short stories should be out by June 2011. —.------.-------------------- — ' IIS r R* Meet Your Local Branch Manager: "Communities arent just streets and build ings. Communities are thriving places where cultures, commerce and souls grow stronger together.* -M ary Mary Edmeades Social Impact Banking 503.445.2155 ödmeades<§albinabank. M em ber LzJ cn«/" At Albina Community Bank the most ordinary financial transaction can have an extraordinary impact on our local community. You’re going to bank somewhere, why not let your banking make a difference in the places where you five and work?
