Saturday, January 06, 2007

News about Nancy, but Botswana...?

The new Speaker of the US House of Representatives is Nancy Pelosi. Her success has been covered by news sources from BBC and the New York Times to San Diego Union Tribune, and perhaps much of the attention reflects her chromosome composition. Still more important than the "girl's rule" movement may be found in recent news transcripts and editorials over her leadership role and the Democratic powerhouse. Commentators are usually accurate in their attempts to predict upcoming changes in US foreign policy for Iraq, as well as oversight in ethicial codes - such as for corporations like Enron and Washington officials like San Diego's former Congressman Randy Cunningham.

Although I hope the Democrat's will continue initiatives for troop withdrawl in Iraq*, the funding programs to combat AIDS in Africa, or the hard-lined policies against Hamas leaders in Palestine. Moreover, the new Congress was not elected through Democrats loyal to party ideals, but rather a general consensus among the electorate to change US domestic and foreign agendas. EOne example of a sort of "centrist" attitude from US voters can be found from such states elections as Colorado, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania - which all voted for governors whose party or personal principles oppose the bulk of new state policies regarding abortion, as of November 2006.

America’s political demography now demonstrates that both Republicans and Democrats rely less on their parties for voting cues and are thus inspired by individual issues and candidates. And like Democrats, Republicans want to reform many domestic and foreign policies, which may explain why Christopher Caldwell writes that 47% of voters described themselves as ‘moderates’ at the polls.** In the same article, Caldwell concludes that moderate Republican candidates, especially those endorsed by President Bush, suffered the greatest loses. The majority of elected officials represent an extreme right-wing agenda. The Financial Times also points out that support for ballot initiatives leading the new domestic strategies over abortion, affirmative action and gay marriage “do not break down neatly on party lines.”***

Congress has earmarked funds under the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to require 1/3 of preventative funds to promote Abstinence programs/eduaction. The earmark is consistent with the Bush administration's conservative schemes to spread it's ideologies regarding sex and morals. Since the stringent PEPFAR Abstinence programs began in 2004, most African countries have complained that local communities do not respond to the programs with sexual behavior change. PEPFAR reports from teh Government Accountability Office and Health Organizations suggest that many Africans do not adopt abstinence because women are unable to negotiate sex and talking about AIDS can stigmatize individuals from their families and communities, which make it unlikely that combating sexually transmitted AIDS will succeed from the immersion of Africans into unfamiliar approaches to sex, like abstinence. Furthermore, the program implementors are often confused by contrasting agendas and guidelines from Mr. Trybl - the Global AIDS Coordinator.

The Government sent financial support to Palestine for humanitarian relief programs in Gaza. Since Hamas took over, the funds are now allocated to protect the security and initiatives of Palestine President Abbas. Abbas may need protections, given the contrasting principles between Hamas leadership and Presidential power, but efforts for mediating the conflicts within Palestine and between Israel and Palestine have barely inched towards peace. Therefore, the Democrats may lobby Bush and Rice to work more with Middle-eastern politics, rather than containing leadership against traditional "enemies"; this example of containing/ stubborn attitude (refusal to talk with) national powers is also happening between the US, Iran and Syria.

So I challenge the new leaders to tackle the predetermined social agenda of Presidential initiatives, including policies to reduce sexually transmitted AIDS in Africa and more liberal strategies for mediating middle-eastern tensions. Nancy Pelosi should not ignore the United States' global resposibility to leave domestic ideologies at home in order to engage initiatives that address needs specific to regional/local communities. Surely, Iraq will continue to lead US Foreign Policy agenda, but the new Congress can also find ways to improve other failures of the Bush administration, regardless of party affiliation.


*Info on troops: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6236225.stm
**Christopher Caldwell. “America’s Shift in Conservatism.” Financial Times. 11/12/06, p. 9.
**** “Democrats Struggle to Win the Culture Wars, Voting on social issues does not always follow party lines.” Financial Times. 11/10/06, p. 14.

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