The stakes couldn’t be any higher than they are right now in the U.S. Congress. On the docket are healthcare reform, financial regulatory reform, climate change legislation, immigration reform, gay rights, and more. These issues impact the welfare of not only tens of millions of Americans but arguably the whole world (in the case of environmental policy and financial regulation).
Yet, we have an opposition party that has essentially taken itself out of any serious discussions and has decided to try to block any progress on any front. The GOP has become an extreme obstructionist party, threatening to filibuster every major piece of legislation; in addition the entire Republican apparatus, from the grassroots to the Congressional leadership to Fox News, is spreading lies, deception, and fear in an all-out effort to confuse American citizens and whip up extremists (the better to create sensationalist media coverage).
It is time for the reality-based community, for all who care deeply about the issues, to say enough is enough. It is time to forego the political correctness that says it’s impolitic to call a lie a lie in politics, time to deny even a hint of deference to those who resist all progress. As Obama has said, those who use falsehoods and deception to derail America’s efforts to move ahead must be “called out”.
All of us have a relative, colleague, or friend who denies global warming, or throws the word socialism at any government program they disagree with, or refers to gays or immigrants with hateful rhetoric; they belong to the know-nothing crowd that is coarsening our body politic and seems intent on keeping us from even beginning to attack the real issues of the day.
It takes courage to stand up to these people, whether at the water cooler, a staff meeting, or even at the dinner table; but this holiday season, ignorance should not go unchallenged. It is often said that progressives are simply too polite, too weak-kneed to stand up for what they believe—which helps explains why rightwing extremists too often prevail in public discourse. This must end. Those who stand idly by while others spout nonsense and propaganda only empower them.
It’s critical at this juncture, with so many important issues hanging in the balance, that we all directly confront those who don’t have the facts on their side. We must politely, but firmly, correct them. We need to make it clear that shouting and hyperbolic pronunciations are not going to win the debates of the day. Not anymore.
Standing up for reason can often be uncomfortable, but it is the right thing to do.
If not now, when?
If not you, who?
Just say no to the forces of ignorance, and never look back.
Jason Scorse