Priorities beyond economics

The "Ballad of Baby Doe" played these past two weekends at the Musical Arts Center. Written in English and depicting life in 19th century Colorado, it is a far cry from most people's archetypal conception of an opera. Rather, it is a story steeped in the tradition of Americana, exalting the entrepreneurial spirit and focusing on what Americans traditionally do best -- talk politics. \nThe opera focuses on the true story of Horace Tabor, a silver miner who struck it rich and became a senator. Because his wealth was in silver, Tabor backed the silver standard, and lost both his wealth and his political power when the value of silver declined and the United States switched to a gold standard. Early in the second act, William Jennings Bryan, who ran for president against William McKinley in 1896, sings an aria that borrows lines from a number of real campaign slogans about how "nailing America to a cross of gold" will destroy the mining-based economy of the American west. \nIt took me a while to get over my amusement at the sheer randomness of depicting this particular moment in American history as an opera. When I did, I realized "The Ballad of Baby Doe" provides good evidence of just how little has changed in American political culture in the past century.\nOf course, it's no longer an issue what precious metal defines the value of the U.S. dollar, but the general principle of Bryan's aria is pretty much the same as the much-repeated creed of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign -- "It's the economy, stupid." \nAs many political scientists or CNN commentators will tell you, people vote based on the economy. Frankly, I'm a little sick of it.\nIt is undeniable the economy is important -- it is a crime that unemployment and poverty rates should be where they are in a country as wealthy and productive as the United States. Also, a number of issues, from health care to education are inextricably linked to the economy. At the same time, however, it cannot be denied that even during a recession, we live in one of the most opulent countries in the world, and there are other issues that aren't getting their share of discussion. In a globalized world, the far more rampant problem of poverty abroad should be addressed hand in hand with domestic poverty, and we should acknowledge it is no longer just our economy, stupid, but everyone's.\nWe live in a time when we should be devoting resources to cleaning up our environment, wiping out AIDS, making our citizens smarter, expanding civil liberties in this country and protecting human rights around the world. Unfortunately, we are stuck in the same debate that defined the politics of Tabor, Bryan and McKinley. The White House continues to defend its tax cuts as the best way to stimulate growth, and Democratic presidential contenders berate the fact that unemployment is at 5.6 percent. Even the wars on terror and in Iraq have a secondary role in public discussion, with Democrats unsure of their line of attack and Republicans unsure of their defense.\n Tax cuts, if properly targeted and not so large as to cripple government, are good for economic growth. And the Democrats are right -- people should not be happy with a 5.6 percent unemployment rate. At the same time, if we are to break out of this repetitious cycle of political debate, voters must be willing to adjust their priorities. Upper and even middle-class citizens must be willing to make small sacrifices. For our country and our global society to improve, we need to debate more than dollars. When we do, it will be a moment in history worthy of an opera.