By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Most women don’t realize the power plays that go on in the political arena. Women have always been at the bottom of the economic ladder and the bottom in attaining leadership positions. But a few women are learning what it takes to enter the fray. It was almost time to consider electing the first woman president when Hillary Clinton stepped up to be counted as a bona-fide candidate. But once more a man rose to the top and used the evolving media to reach out to many voters who had given up on politics and were looking for a renewed message of hope. We elected this candidate who believed in hope but the forces beyond any president’s control are always acting no matter how much we want to believe that a president can effect great changes all on his or her own. We have learned that we can’t leave it up to the president and turn our backs.

There is no citizen acting alone that has ever brought about great change without society supporting such change. We need each other. But the corporate giant has managed to separate us and divide us as we sit singly in front of our I-phones while tapping shorthand messages to our friends. We are vulnerable consumers who sometimes lose our way. Fortunately society rights itself when it becomes skewed. For that I am thankful.

In spite of all the misinformation and pornography out there, ideas that can bring people together once more are being circulated—ideas about a better world and ideas on how to gain advocates to work for this better world. Never give up hope that those who work for a living and do their share of cooperating and coming to the rescue of others who need them finally get their day in the sun. People do rise up under oppression. It has taken a little more time to figure out how this current downturn is affecting all of us. But eventually the people will not be denied.

Someday education will be available to everyone on the planet but until that time those who are educated and aware must step up and be counted. We all must learn how important it is to appreciate life and the world that we live in. The millions of universes that exist without our having the means to penetrate beyond our galaxy may never be fathomed in our century. But that does not relieve each of us from making the most of the benefits we have.

Many among us who really care will share their knowledge and support with those who have not reached their deserved level of well being. There is good in the world. There is hope. Yes, I know that giving advice is easy. It is acting on what we know is the right thing to do that is more difficult. Each of us has a responsibility to do our one person’s thing to support change for the better.

Soon we will be voting for president. Let’s hope that our choice will result in a country that cares about all citizens and not just those who are fortunate enough to have jobs and decent health care. Instead of preserving the middle class maybe we should find a way to elevate those at the bottom of the economic ladder and tax the one-percenters so that they pay their fair share. This country has always prided itself on not being class conscious. Now is the time to find a way to reduce the class distinctions that have become so apparent in these times of economic downturn. Corporate Personhood (which is the status of corporations as persons with all the rights but none of the responsibility of persons) is one of the stumbling blocks to bringing the good life to all citizens in this country. Will the newly elected president and the Congress finally stand up to corporate power when they still take handouts from these very corporations to fund multi-million dollar campaigns? We shall soon see.

Georgie Bright Kunkel is a freelance writer who can be reached at gnkunkel@comcast.net or 206-935-8663.