Election Day!

Yesterday was election day. I can only assume that most people didn't go out to vote or care that it was election day. I was sad yesterday when I came back from getting dessert with some friends to realize that I was missing out on the ridiculous Election Day coverage on Network TV. As soon as the kids were on the bus this morning, I was on my computer to see what the results were.

I am not shocked. I am glad the Barbara Boxer is still my Senator. I know that Duncan Hunter will be my SD Rep until he dies.  I am ecstatic that Meg Whitman is not the governor elect in California, but not sure that Jerry Brown is going to solve the problems my favorite state faces. I am a little disappointed about Prop 19 (legalizing marijuana), I think it would have helped California more than hurt it.  There isn't a winning solution to drugs, but the current laws we have are failing just about everyone involved.

I then listened to the new Speaker of the House's speech, John Boehner.  His speech did not give me hope that things are actually going to be different in politics. His speech brings to light the hypocrisy that exists on both sides of the aisle.  It is moments like this that my idealistic and hopeful view of the world is crushed slightly. I think about how many people didn't go out to vote because they think it doesn't matter, or worse, because the candidates are all saying the same thing in a slightly different way.

In a way, I hope that this can bring about some bipartisanship back to Washington. I want to see President Obama reach across the aisle and continue his ambitious agenda.  After President Clinton lost his majority, things changed in but there was a new level of compromise (even through the Republicans trying to get him impeached).  This is when we started created a budget surplus for our nation and unemployment declined.  That is was we need to see.  I hope that we can see this as an opportunity to unite our country. I hope that we can stop bickering and give 9/11 first responders the healthcare they need and deserve. I hope that we can talk about how to deal with immigration and get all of the nominations that are being held up confirmed or denied instead of allowing them to stay in limbo.

I am glad that the craziest of the tea party candidates failed but I hope the ones that did get elected hold the Republic party to a new standard of fiscal responsibility.  I hope that Nancy Pelosi can take the higher road and treat the new Speaker with respect.  I hope that we can repair the beautiful and amazing country that I am from.  I hope that the change the country voted for is what we are given in the next two years. I am cautiously hopeful for the future. Progress is bound to happen let's just hope it is forward progress.

If you didn't watch any of Jon Stewart's Rally take 12 minutes to watch his Moment of Sincerity.  It is another heartfelt speech by Jon and one of the many reasons why I love and respect him so much!

I would like to make one more shout out to my BFF Ellie!!! She has been working tirelessly for months to get Senator Harry Reid reelected. I haven't spoken to her nearly as much as we used and I know that the last 2 months have involved little to no sleep.  It paid off. I know that she was such an asset to the campaign and I thank her for allowing the Dems to at least keep the majority in the Senate! She is a phenomenal woman who is going to be leading campaigns before we know it! Congrats Ellie!!! Can we talk now?? =)

You can take the girl out of DC but you can't take the DC out of the girl!

Fourth of July weekend in DC! 

A Woman's Nation Changes Everything

I had the opportunity to attend a conference put on by the Center for American Progress many months ago about the Shriver Report. Maria Shriver and a team of people created this report which interviewed people across the country about what it is like to be a family member, to be a woman, to be a man, and what needs to be done about it now. Many of the authors spoke at the conference. It was a great experience and one of the many things I did when I found myself unemployed in a new city.

A few of the statistics-

• Women make up 50% of the workforce for the first time ever.
• Women are receiving 57% of college degrees and 50% of master's and doctorates.
• Women are still being paid $0.77 to the dollar for doing the same work as their male counterparts.

Women's empowerment and equality is what I have found I am most passionate about.  I know that my ideal job will surround women's economic empowerment, education, and all together community development.  I have recently been reminded of this passion as I continue to do research regarding graduate school and what I want to do.  I have also watched or read the following articles.  I recommend taking a moment if you have one to look at them.  There are also a few articles about getting married or being single, which I find interesting to think about as well. 

Still Working- Commentary on the road ahead for equal opportunities for men and women.

The End of Men - An article about equality and where we are going. Lots of issues brought up!
Rich White Men Are Doing Just Fine -- It's Men and Women of Color Who Continue to Fall Behind - This is a response article to the article in "The Atlantic." 

Eve Ensler- She wrote the Vagina Monologues which became one my proudest accomplishments at school.  Eve continues to work hard to fight for women everywhere and is always an inspiration to me. This is a great talk about everyone embracing your inner girl. (Ted.com is an awesome website with 15 minute talks about everything you can imagine! It is a quality time waster.)

The first article I have ever read saying something positive about Walmart

White House Council on Women and Girls: One of the first things that President Obama did when he came into office was create the White House Council on Women and Girls. Valerie Jared is in charge of the council and I have really enjoyed listening to her speak over the past year and a half. 

I would recommend everyone read Arianna Huffington's book On Becoming Fearless. It is a FANTASTIC book about looking fear in the face and realizing that it might not have been worth fearing after all. 

Marry Him and On Settling for Mr. Good Enough are thought provoking articles about finding the balance on "settling" and compromise. 

Healthcare Reform..Oh My!

On March 21st, I had a "this is why I live in DC moment." I had the privilege of being in the House Gallery on the Sunday night when Congress voted to pass the Senate Bill. People were cycling in and out of the Gallery every 15 minutes and luckily my group ended up in the room for the vote. We watch the Democrats chant "One more vote" and then cheer once it reached the needed 216. It was an amazing experience to see people reach some sort of deal to provide healthcare to millions. 

My group and I headed outside to watch Representatives leave the Capitol building. We cheered them as they left and said thank you. It was a moment I will cherish for a long time to come.

I spent the day on the Hill that day and tensions were high. I spoke with pro-reformers and people who really did think the world was going to end if this bill passed.  People were exhausted. I met Representative Lewis. He was very kind and informed us that they had the votes and we did not need to worry about the bill not becoming law. We spoke with some staffers who had had horrible experiences the day before with people storming offices and not leaving. 


No one will tell you this bill is perfect. Most on the left will say it doesn't go far enough and many on the right will say they want the government out of their healthcare. It raising taxes on many people and on services (such as tanning beds). There is no public option and our government just mandated 32 million new customers to private insurers. Fortunately, the sky is not falling, and instead people will hopefully have access to healthcare. This is something that has not been the case ever before. 


The battle was ugly and has only gotten uglier once it was passed and became a law. I have struggled with what I wanted to happen with this bill. I am disappointed with the unnecessary arguments about aborting funding and disappointed that we have an unnecessary and unconstitutional Executive Order to limit a woman's right to choose. I am not sure that this is the best thing that we could have gotten. Democrats gave up a lot and got nothing in return from the Republicans. I still do not know if we could have done better and I am settling, which is not something I am fond of doing. I do believe it is a GIANT step in the right direction. 


However, Congress did it! Now, we have officially signed Healthcare Reform into law. We need to take a minute to celebrate. This opens up opportunities for so many people with chronic disorders or any pre-existing condition. I have the ability to get back on my parent's insurance because my employer doesn't offer me anything. This opens up choices for so many young people around the country. 


We need to take a moment to celebrate because starting this year no one will have a lifetime cap and starting in a few years, there will be no more annual caps. These are battles that people have been fighting for a long time.


The bill is not perfect and the implementation process is vital to ensuring that people get what they should get out of this bill. My hope is that it is a step toward a public option and more competition. It is my hope that it will lessen discrimination and it will give people more choices in their life.  I have been a part of some debates online over the last few weeks. They have been interesting and I do understand people's frustration with the process and with the bill. I have found through my many hours of reading about the bill and listening to people talk about the bill that it will have many positive impacts on our healthcare system.  States are already being hit hard by the passage of the bill. 


I also want to take a moment to give President Obama some credit. Some still argue that his rhetoric needs to end and action is needed. it seems like people are ignoring the fact that his rhetoric is different than any president we have ever seen. He is willing to say things that aren't always politically popular but are necessary. I admire his passion and compassion. Our President is taking on some of the biggest issues our country faces. Financial Reform and Immigration Reform is next. I may not agree with everything he is doing, but he moving our country forward and creating the debate on things most shy away from. 


It is with optimism that we continue to progress towards a better society. I am trying to epitomize the realistic idealist.   

House Hearing

I have been volunteering with the Hemophilia Federation of America. This week I went to a hearing on the Hill. I really enjoyed it. I have also had the opportunity to meet a few people my age that work on the Hill and have started re-thinking my interest in working on the Hill. Anyway, I was asked to write about the event for the Advocacy Blog. Here is the link to my article. There were also two other people who testified about being under-insured. Their stories were heart-breaking. Luckily the three people affected by their lack of insurance have survived their diseases and difficulties. I am sure that this is not always the case so let’s hope that there will be some reform soon.

http://hemophiliafed.org/2009/10/16/reflections-of-nathan-wilkes’-testimony-before-the-house-subcommittee-on-oversight-and-investigations/