The United States New Governmental Landscape: Time will Tell
by: bpayne1
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Word Count: 873
On November 7, 2006 I decided not to go to work. The night before I could not sleep. However, not getting enough sleep was not my reason to neglect my sometimes trivial work responsibilities. The reason I did not go in was because I wanted to continue with my candidate research without any interruptions. It was my desire to be fully informed prior to entering the poll station. I wanted to be confident in my selections. So, I got up at 5am and began the much needed meaningful work.
As a result of my meticulous candidate scrutiny, I discovered that numerous of our future representatives did not have a platform, or perhaps they just failed to share it with their constituents. To my surprise, it was the declared Georgia Democrat candidates who did not put any substantive effort in communicating their plan of action for leadership and governance. I was absolutely flabbergasted! I could not believe that these wanna-be leaders did not take five minutes to articulate their political message via a popularly viewed website. Not even on their own personal websites! If they are not taking the voting process seriously, why should have the voters who sloshed through the rain soaked roads and sidewalks throughout metro Atlanta?
Well, it was my time to use the power of the ballot. I felt nervous and anxious while standing in front of the electronic ballot machine. I felt a rush and a great sense of power. It was this array of emotions and feelings that caused a slight heart flutter. After I settled down, I began to sock it to those men and women who failed to give me a legitimate reason to vote for them. I was being politically vengeful with the purpose of retribution. It was my hope that I would be cheering and gloating at the conclusion of voting day with the Georgia Republican candidates who thoroughly answered the question: Why should the residents of Georgia vote for you? It was disappointing that the Democrats left me out in the cold November rain, and did not give me and thousands of other Georgians a reason to “side” with them.
Maybe my frustration was felt and somehow transcended to other voters throughout Georgia considering that the state of Georgia made it into the history books. For the first time every the top three offices in the state will be occupied by Republicans. An honor that I by the way, believe they deserve. Sonny Perdue will have to honor his “Sonny Do List”. Casey Cagle will have to stand very firmly on his “protecting traditional values” platform and Karen Handel must serve the people of Georgia with diligence like she did as the former chief of staff for one time vice president Dan Quayle. With the continued resurgence of interest in Georgia politics I am confident these three individuals understand how serious the citizens of Georgia are. We have the same concerns most of the nation has, and we plan to hold their feet to the fire.
While a few of us are gloating in Georgia and demanding the newly elected and reelected leaders keep their feet out of the fire, many are highly enthusiastic about the national shift in power. The Democrats are back in charge and this time they are saying, “America has voted for a change.” Unlike in other states we, here in the south, are accustom to the “redness” of our state. Having a blue House and blue Senate is new and possibly refreshing to some. However, I am of the belief that the new power is a reflection of the Democrats in Georgia. The reflection reads: No Plan.
Of course time will tell over the next few months. Voting Senators and House Representatives in just because it is time for a “change” in Iraq is shallow. What about stem cell research; the minimum wage; government corruption; healthcare; the astonishing increasing gap between the wealthy and the poor; and the alarming prices of prescription medication? Do Americans believe that getting out of Iraq will solve our most pressing problems? No, it will not. What will happen is what occurred just hours after the Democrats seized office i.e. Rumsfeld’s resignation. There will be disunity at the highest levels. Nothing will get accomplished because our Democrats will lodge investigations, rebuke the president, and behave like the White House is the enemy. We will be no better than the politically unstable governments throughout the developing world.
It is my prayer that John Conyers, John Kerry, Claire McCaskill, Charles Rangel, Hilary Clinton, Robert P. Casey Jr., Nancy Pelosi, Joe Lieberman, and other Democrats will move forward and not backwards. Getting out of Iraq is certainly important. Nonetheless, they need to address the domestic work for “the people”. Iraq has only proven to affect “the people” because it was a newly unpopular Mr. Bush who made the decision to de-unify that once upon a time functioning government in Iraq.
Written by Brian E. Payne. Inspired by the cold I now have from sloshing through the rain to perform my civic duty.
About the Author
Brian E. Payne, Peace Corps regional Recruitment Coordinator/Manager, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Antigua 1994-1996.
A native of Thomasville, NC, Brian received his bachelor’s in Physical Education/Health at High Point University and a master’s in Divinity from Howard University. While at High Point, Brian was a dynamic campus leader and he became a Five-Time Track and Field All-American, and received an invitation to compete in the 1991 Olympic Track & Field Trials.
Immediately upon graduating from High Point University, Payne worked for the YMCA of Thomasville as a Youth Fitness Director, with an array of responsibilities ranging from teen health fitness to adult fitness.
After one year at the YMCA, he entered the Peace Corps. In Antigua, Payne was responsible for developing and implementing a Physical Education curriculum. He also worked as a Peace Corps trainer for incoming trainees, host country teachers, and host government community leaders.
In his current service with the Peace Corps, Brian has served as the Recruitment Coordinator/Manager for the Atlanta Peace Corps Recruiting Office. He is responsible for coordinating all recruitment activities within six states and two United States territories. Prior to the Recruitment Coordinator/Manager position, Brian served in various capacities within Peace Corps. As a testament to his leadership qualities and productivity Brian has been granted the maximum tour of service (8 ½ years).
He is a devoted father of one, a prolific writer (several of his writings have been published), and he is currently working on completing his first book of commentaries.
Brian can be reached at 404-562-3468 or by email at bpayne1@peacecorps.gov.
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