Reality Check

I went to Cleveland this past weekend to help canvas neighborhoods for the Obama campaign.  I went through two neighborhoods in two days.  Both bore the signs of a city hurting - vacant houses, many recent arrivals and departures (our voter list was almost useless), people struggling to make ends meet.

There was a superficial "this is why we're doing this" feeling, but it didn't feel deeply authentic.  What does feel authentic: I really, truly believe that an integral approach is the only way forward.  The republican solution has been reliance on the free market, or, in extreme form, denial that there's a problem at all (because if the people were really willing to work and apply themselves, they'd be doing better).  The democratic solution has been a focus on external forces - emphasis on education and government assistance, or, in extreme form, welfare.

Problem is, both those solutions are woefully partial; but both contain truths that are part of a better approach.  Long-term, an integral approach is our only chance.