2006 Election is Important
by Danielle Engle
This is an important legislative
year for Minnesota voters. In addition to selecting candidates for
state and federal offices, current activities at home and abroad
are challenging many citizens to question the concept of “social
contract.”
What is a social contract?
How is it defined by the democratic principles reviewed, debated
and outlined by the original framers of the Constitution of the U.S.A.?
How and why did the Bill of Rights come into being? Equally important,
what are the social rights and responsibilities of and between citizens
and the branches of government?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
theorized, “The heart of the idea of
the social contract may be stated simply: Each of us places his person
and authority under the supreme direction of the general will, and
the group receives each individual as an indivisible part of the
whole...” http://en.wikipedia.org
Going further, John
Locke “argued a government could only
be legitimate if it received the consent of the governed and protected
the natural rights of life, liberty, and estate. If such consent
was not achieved, Locke argued in favour of a right of rebellion.” http://en.wikipedia.org
The contract is then
renegotiated through methods such as elections and legislature.
In the U.S.A. this process occurs throughout all levels of government—city
charters, state constitutions, bills and legislature, federal bills,
legislation and ultimately, the Constitution of the United States
of America.
Upon signing the Constitution
of the U.S.A. on July 4, 1776, the first three articles Congress
(legislative), the presidency (executive) and the judiciary (judicial)
defined the three branches of government www.constitutioncenter.org. These separate but interdependent branches of government were established
to ensure a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.
On March 4, 1789, the
Bill of Rights was signed. The opening paragraph reads: “The Conventions of a number of States having, at the
time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order
to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory
and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground
of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent
ends of its institution…”
Once ratified, the Bill of Rights which included Articles 1-12,
became part of the Constitution. At this point in history, voters
may find the original documents helpful in determining their dialogue
with current office holders as well as candidates for the pending
2006 election.
Challenges
President Bush’s
proposed $2.77 trillion budget proposal includes cuts in domestic
programs that impact individuals with disabilities and their families.
As the population ages, the percentage of people with disabilities
will also increase. With the continuing war in Iraq, there is also
an increase in the number of soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI) and other disabilities.
Perhaps the biggest
challenge before the disability community is the commitment to
active involvement in the electoral process. Beginning with the
precinct caucuses on March 7, the process will continue through
the November election. For each right and liberty secured through
the Americans with Disabilities Act, there is an equal responsibility
to exercise and protect the same. Consider Chuck Campbell’s
article, “Voting Devices Tested” in the January 10, 2006
issue of Access Press.
By becoming involved in the legislative debates, issues, candidate
selection process, and other election activities, individuals with
disabilities create a presence. This presence is a declaration of
being viable voters and citizens who are actively utilizing and exercising
accessibility to the legislative and electoral process. Furthermore,
these individuals are fulfilling the obligations and responsibilities
of the social contract.
Issues
In the January 2006
State of the Union Address www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2006,
President Bush said, “Keeping America competitive
requires affordable health care. Our government has a responsibility
to provide healthcare for the poor and the elderly, and we are
meeting that responsibility.”
In the 2007 budget,
Bush proposes additional cuts from Medicare and Medicaid over the
next 10 years. Proposed health care cuts include the elimination
of all funding for traumatic brain injury, rural and community
access to emergency devices, universal newborn hearing screening,
and emergency management services for children, to name a few www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html, “07
Budget Appendix, Health Resources and Services Administration”.
In 2003, the Defense
and Veterans’ Head Injury Program (DVHIP)
reported 62% of 155 injured soldiers screened upon return from Iraq
were found to have a brain injury -- report available at www.biausa.org.
Yet, as indicated in the previous paragraph, the 2007 budget calls
for the elimination of all funding for traumatic brain injury.
Consider this quote
from the January State of the Union Address: “Our
nation is grateful to the fallen, which live in the memory of our
country. We’re grateful to all who volunteer to wear our nation’s
uniform — and as we honor our brave troops, let us never forget
the sacrifices of America’s military families.”
Now consider a report
published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP),
www.cbpp.org. Veterans’ programs
would be cut $10.3 billion over the next 5 years. By 2011, the
cuts will reach 13%. The primary purpose of these programs is to
provide veterans with medical care.
Another CBPP report
states, “More than four-fifths of the
Medicaid savings proposals in the Administration’s new budget
would reduce federal Medicaid expenditures by shifting costs directly
from the federal government to the states. These cost shifts are
consistent with a broader theme in the new budget of squeezing grants
in aid to states. If implemented, the Administra-tion’s
Medicaid proposals would leave states the option of cutting
back their Medicaid programs (by reducing eligibility, benefits,
or provider payments), cutting back other state programs, or increasing
taxes to make up for the loss of federal funds. In states that
opt to cut back on their Medicaid programs, low-income families,
individuals with disabilities, and seniors would be at risk.”
The budget also calls for the termination of some grants to state
and local governments. They include: the Commodity Supplemental Food
Program which provides nutritional food packages for low-income elderly
individuals; the Preventative Care Block Grant which funds preventative
health services for underserved populations; and the Community Services
Block Grant which provides funding for social services and other
types of assistance for low-income families and individuals who are
elderly and/or with disabilities.
In 2007 there is a proposed 50% cut in Section 811 housing for low-income
people with disabilities. There is also a 79% cut in community policing
services. From 2007 - 2011, there is a 17% reduction in education,
training, employment, and social services. There is also a 14% reduction
in transportation.
Summary
In light of these and
other issues, there are several questions to consider. Within the
context of a social contract—democratic
government, if you prefer—what are the social, financial
and moral responsibilities of the individual, family, community
and the local, state and federal levels of government? What services
do you consider essential to the social contract?
Review these in light of policy statements issued by candidates.
For example, the following issues are highlighted by candidates in
the Minnesota gubernatorial election: quality affordable healthcare;
transportation services; educational opportunities at levels K-12
and above; agricultural development; vocational and rehabilitation
services; crime prevention and public safety programs; environmental
protection; job opportunities and a sound economy; and sustainable
energy sources.
These are only a few
of the many areas likely to be impacted in the coming years. Several
areas directly impact individuals with disabilities. As constituents,
individuals with (and without) disabilities have the right – some may say the responsibility – to
communicate concerns, questions and calls for action to respective
government officials and 2006 office candidates.
By researching the issues, attending legislative, political party
and special issue meetings, voters with disabilities can help determine
the outcome of the 2006 election and the outcome of the 2007 budget
proposal.
In Minnesota the state offices
include: Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Secretary of State; Attorney
General; State Auditor; 67 State Senators; and 134 State Representatives.
Federal offices include one U.S. Senator and eight U.S. Representatives.
Additional information on offices and candidates is available at
www.congress.org and www.uselections.com
See below for a searchable database on the upcoming election issues
and candidates.
