No Hope in a Favela

A favela is a shantytown in South America.  The first one appeared on the outskirts of Rio De Janeiro 100 years ago.  It is a stark reminder of what happens when people lose hope.  In 1978, I saw a favela ringing the city of Bogota, Columbia.  It consisted of shanties made of scraps of lumber and tin, no running water and open ditches that served as a sewer system.  I still remember the stench. My most indelible memory?  The people who lived there had lost all hope.

I raise this issue because I believe that in America, the battle raging between conservatives and progressives is all about hope.  And hope is all about the future. 

The Republicans are insisting that the government reduce spending on domestic programs that create hope; like education, health care and scientific research.   But the defense budget remains off-limits.  It’s based on fear, not hope.    

Paul Ryan, a Republican Representative, says his budget is designed to put us on a more solid economic footing.  No one knows if it will or won’t.  We live in a time of confusion; designed, manufactured and distributed by partisan politicians and special interest groups.  But one thing is sure.  If we cut the programs that offer hope, we reduce possibilities for the future.     

From where I’m sitting, I see politicians trying to act like leaders.  And doing a bad job of it.  What they are really doing is staking out positions in the existing American narrative; a narrative that has no leaders.  It’s shaping itself from the disinformation being spewed on us by the main stream media, which has its own political agendas. 

In simple terms, the Republican party is attempting to convince us that there is hope in cutting the government back and allowing unfettered capitalism to fix all problems.  Instead of confronting this delusion, the Democrats are negotiating away any remaining hope.  If there were leaders in either party they would stop using our budget problems  in their tug-of-war. 

The interests of unfettered capitalism and those of the average American diverged decades ago with the help of both political parties.  You see, the truth is that big businesses play in a global game.  And if they are to survive they have to play by the rules of a global economy.  We live on Main street, Home Town, U.S.A.  Global economic rules don’t apply here:  But the results do; like disappearing jobs. 

True leadership promises hope. I don’t hear anything coming from our putative leaders that sounds like true leadership.  The Republican positioning sounds more like conserving the status quo at best; going backwards at worst.  The Democrats still can’t seem to find their voice.  All they seem to be able to do is negotiate the Republican’s threats.  This is real leadership? Please! 

Real leadership would assess America’s enormous assets, both human and material.  It would honestly admit that we are slipping backwards on too many fronts except our military might. It would lead, not follow, a positive and hopeful narrative that inspires us and doesn’t make a market in conflict.  It would organize the efforts of the American people and launch us forward into a world of growth and opportunity for those willing to work at it.

Instead, what we have is  the Republican’s driving while viewing our future through the rear-view mirror and calling it leadership.  And the Democrats gradually relinquishing, if not having already conceded their right to lead or drive.  In the meantime, we’re all passengers on a bus to somewhere.  I don’t think it’s as bad as a favela.  But I doubt if there is much hope there.

Our government is the only voice left for the common man in unfettered capitalism.  Its weak and feeble but still there if we use it.  Budget-cuts will mute it even further.  If that’s hope, I’m confused.

Robert DeFilippis