One way we at times fail to develop a constructive political conversation is to think only negative thoughts about people we disagree with. The following description from a letter to the editor is an example of a negative description.
“Carol Browner, global warming czar. At one time this anti-American was listed as one of the 14 leaders of Socialist International, a whacky organization of international leftists who advocates ‘global governance’” (News-Star 10-22-09).
This description gives a false impression of Browner in four ways:
1. Global warming czar. This title has negative connotations. Browner is director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. Her job is to coordinate the work of cabinet agencies like energy, transportation, and the EPA in order to make them more effective and efficient.
She is responsible for seeing that industries and states are not confused by differing policies coming from government agencies. So far, her colleagues in the Obama cabinet and most business people give her high marks for her work (“The Lioness in Spring” 10-23-09 Newsweek).
2. Browner is not “anti-American” unless motherhood and sound environmental policies are against America. Browner received the Outstanding Mother of the Year Award from the National Mother’s Day Committee in 1997, Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year Award, and several honors for environmental work (Wikipedia lists other accomplishments).
3. Browner has never been “listed as one of the 14 leaders of Socialist International.” Socialist International has two commissions, one deals with global environmental concerns. This commission “brings together leading personalities to set out recommendations to tackle these fundamental issues” (www.socialistinternational.org). Browner was one of these personalities.
This commission is co-chaired by a former president of Chile and the Prime Minister of Sweden, and the commission’s members hold high-level environmental posts in England, Germany, Brazil. If the USA wants a voice in these deliberations, Browner was a good choice because of her environmental accomplishments.
4. Socialist International is not a whacky organization. In many countries, socialist parties have a significant voice in national deliberations. SI brings together 170 socialist parties from around the world to coordinate activities and to speak with a stronger voice. All their work, including membership and budget, are public. Whether we agree with their goals or not, SI should not be dismissed as whacky.
Political conversations based on realities will advance U.S. interests best.
Joe Hall
Shawnee
