Five steps forward, three steps back

A recent issue of Newsweek had a timeline explaining that there have always been backlash periods after major progressive changes in our country. So no surprise that the crazies are out screaming about socialism taking over the country today. The same thing happened to FDR, LBJ, etc. But, when you think about it, most of the reforms became an integral and accepted part of our everyday lives. So far, at least, we've not heard the wingnuts preaching that women shouldn't be allowed to vote, that orphans should be locked up in big, brick buildings or that old people should live in their kids' basements. (Well, that last one might be up for grabs soon if the "privatization" of Social Security ball gets rolling again.)

I used to demonstrate the slow process of reform movements to my students by literally taking 5 steps forward and 3 steps back, 5 steps forward and 2 steps back, etc. There's always a backlash, a time for digesting the changes which seem radical to many citizens. How exactly was Social Security going to work out? Who would be covered? Who should pay the extra tax? These questions had to be answered over a several year period.

Health care reform, although not as "radical" as most of us had hoped, is still a big change in the way we think about sharing the cost of medical care. Wall Street reforms have the banks screaming bloody murder, but those changes will become incorporated into the way they do business whether they like it or not. So the cycle will repeat itself on Tuesday. Conservatives will win some elections because the voters have been drowned in apocalyptical messages ever since President Obama took office.

But he will be seen by future historians as a great reformer and one who accomplished amazing things despite all the lies and vicious attacks on him personally. Let's hang in there and keep moving forward. Let's keep our "Eyes on the Prize" and celebrate the fact that we know history is on our side.
susan