All Politics Are Local

President Barack Obama has “won” the economic stimulus battle with congressional Republicans, although the meaning of that victory is unclear. Even the language being used is problematic, because really, this stimulus is going to help Americans get back to work, build up our country, and prepare us to move into the future. And it amazed me yesterday, as I stood listening to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, how much of what the President has designed the Mayor is going to have to carry out.

I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with him about education, and the state of schools in Los Angeles. His optimism and determination, based solidly in what he has done so far, was encouraging to me as a teacher and a voter. While he is running for reelection next month, he also has his hands firmly on the wheel, and is trying to get the city, as the President is trying to get the country, “out of the ditch.”

And from the floor of the rally we were attending for the Mayor, to the floor of the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. where I witnessed history, the clarion calls from these two politicians sounded very similar. And they both sounded like exactly what we need to do to recover.

It was a refreshing moment for me, who has been caught up with President Obama and the national stage, but not paying much attention to the budget crisis here in my own state, or the people who are hurting in my own city. But we do have local election coming up, and I was reminded by yesterday that CHANGE also means paying attention to my own backyard, because it starts at home.

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On the front lines