Like Waiting for a Hurricane

Several times over the last 20 or so years in the DC area, we found ourselves under hurricane threat. The weather reports would show images of circular storm cells lurking up the coast and maps of likely pathways. As the storm cells were tracked, the maps were updated with likely targets and the likelihood of strikes. The news reporters broke into regular programming with dire predictions of the coming apocalypse. On a few occasions, the sky turned yellow, the winds began to blow and the river rose. On a couple of occasions, we were sent home from work early to avoid commuting problems. And rarely the hurricane actually hit. But it was the tension of waiting and watching and wondering that I’m remembering most right now.


I’m waiting and watching and wondering at this moment for a hurricane called Furlough! This hurricane has been caused by turbulence in the political atmosphere which in turn has churned up a storm cell of government budget uncertainty. The perfect storm of dissention, disrespect and dysfunction. The storm cell is centered under a tall elegant white dome on a square island in a land peopled by politicians seemingly disconnected from the rest of America.

After months of unruly seas, leaving the nation, the government and 800,000 federal workers stranded on a whirlpool from which there seems to be no escape, it comes down to hours. Will they work out a deal? Will they not? Will the government in fact shut down? Will the hurricane strike shore or will it veer away at the last minute and churn on out to sea leaving a thunderstorm of discontent and anger in its wake?

In a larger context, I find myself becoming increasingly politicized here in Silver City.

I never paid too much attention before. I didn’t vote in an election until Bill Clinton – at least I think I made it to the polls in time to vote for him the first term. Certainly did the next. I was fortunate to live in a safely middle-class community in a virtually recession-proof city. I felt empathy with people who struggled, but didn’t know too many personally. Always was a bit liberal-leaning. Increasingly so during the W years.

But here, I find myself becoming more outspoken, more frustrated, more angry at the tenor and thrust of politics and political agenda. Not entirely one-sided, but mostly. I’ve actually written my state and federal congress people. I’ve joined activist groups. This is a me that surprises me. Because I see the impact first hand of political decisions made elsewhere.

For example, Nick’s program, Energy Sense. He has spent the federal (Dept of Energy) grant money that passed through the state on about half of the 400 homes they targeted for energy efficiency assistance. They thought they had several more months to complete the funded project. But he was told recently that the new administration says spend the money by May or risk losing it. The recipients of Energy Sense assistance are mostly elderly poor, many living in mobile homes. By the state’s own report, the program will save each individual about $165 in electric costs. In addition, the other arm of the program is working on large-scale solar projects to provide electricity to the town and county that will save hundreds of thousands a year. But what will the folks up in the Round House (NM’s state house) do with the money they withdraw, if they withdraw it? Can they put it to other needs in the state? No. The money is returned to the general federal funds. A drop in the ocean of debt. But someone in the Round House will get to huff on their knuckles and polish them on their lapels.

More generally, the political budget decisions being made both on Capitol Hill and in the Round House take food out of the mouths of the children here. In order to give more tax breaks to the wealthiest of Americans individually and corporately. Take health care from our elderly. Take unemployment from our mining community who work hard for the mines until the price of copper goes down and then they’re laid off. No other employment prospects. A political climate that is so bent on saving a few dollars that they lose their moral compass in the process – at least so I believe.

There is a wonderful and emotionally moving monument park to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in DC on the banks of the Potomac – well, the Tidal Basin anyway. On the walls are engraved statements made by FDR or maybe repeated by FDR. One of my favorites and perhaps one that echoes my version of liberalism is (paraphrased from memory): “You can judge the morals and values of a society by how it cares for its elderly, poor and its animals.” On all 3 scores, I think we’re stumbling badly. I would go so far as to say our political structure and incumbents are failing us.

Well, enough ranting. Back to my hurricane…uhmm…my furlough watch. Be well, everyone.