Why Can't We?

President-Elect Barack Obama certainly chose a resonant slogan with "Yes We Can."

And, of course, he did, as did we...the American people. As we turn the page to 2009, and face frightening challenges on a number of fronts, it's time to transition from "Yes We Can" to "Why Can't We?"

There are fundamental changes that need to be made in how the nation functions, and politicians will make these adjustments faster with some prodding from the public.

And so, this humble blog presents:

"Why Can't We?" These are objectives that can be done, and ought to be done as priorities for a better America.

Why can't we ... produce cars and trucks that pollute less, are more road reliable, and are more fuel efficient?

This past fall, we saw Detroit's Big Three come to Washington hat-in-hand to ask our elected representatives for help. Yet even now, we have no firm pledge from them to do things differently. In fact, you can see the carmakers' commitment to business as usual in their commercials and the vehicles they market.

Do we really think a hybrid Cadillac Escalade that gets 21 miles to the gallon on the highway represents progress?



The most fuel efficient car now sold in America gets 48-51 miles to the gallon of fuel.

Why can't we have the option of buying a car that gets 75 MPG? Impossible? Not really.

In fact, one US carmaker sells a car that gets almost that much. Trouble is, you can't buy it here. Come to think of it, college kids regularly create vehicles that clock several hundred miles to the gallon. Public pressure is already being applied to the Big Three in the form of unsold SUV's clogging dealer showrooms. That is, dealers that remain open.

Are we prepared to let elected officials pledge our dollars to carmakers and in six months have no clue how it's been spent. or whether better products are coming to market? Why can't we indeed!

Why can't we ...have universal health care in this country? There are anywhere from 41-46 million Americans who spend a part of their day worrying about getting sick. That's because our health care system focuses its priorities anywhere but on people.




Insurance companies, hospitals, stockholders, drug companies and their lobbyists all seem to prosper, and any attempt to talk about making sure all Americans have access to quality care is met with the battle cry of "socialized medicine". We must start from the notion that good health is an American right, not a privilege.

As we are challenged with the responsibility of eating better, exercising more, not smoking , and the like, our elected officials must come up with health care reform that provides quality care and services for all. Whatever the cost, it's better than having families who pay more for health insurance than they pay for their homes. No matter what you may hear, it works in other countries, not perfectly, but it works.

Why can't we ...have better education for more of our young people? In a perfect world, educators would make as much if not more than star athletes.

Certainly no one would argue teachers have less responsibility. Assuming that won't happen anytime soon, we need to ask if the American education system works hard enough to replicate success. The short answer is no, it doesn't. We have some of the best schools in the world, and ...some of the worst.

Sadly, the best and worst coexist in some cases in the same city. In too many instances we have allowed academic rigor to disappear from our classrooms. We tell our kids they need to get educated primarily to land a good job. We neglect to tell them knowledge is important beyond employment.




We need to recognize where our education bar is, then raise it! If half our young people can't read at or above grade level, we need to commit to making that 75% during Barack Obama's first term. We also need to recognize that funding education is important, but it's not the sole determining factor in creating educational excellence. People are. That would be teachers, administrators, parents, students, and yes, concerned Americans.

The above are but a few areas where we should be asking "Why Can't We?" There are certainly others, but we've got to start somewhere . Are these few things able to be done, or at least worked on? You tell me.

Why can't we ...