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.
—.------.-------------------- — '
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