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Fractured America

America may not be as fractured as you think. People still get along with neighbors and family members who have opposing views. They help them during crises and celebrate milestones in their children’s lives.

When Congress Gets it Right!

ow for decades. During Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson's reign, trust was nearly 80 percent. It began to decline with the Vietnam War except for a blip during World War. It fell during Bush's term in office, remaining low ever since, with Trump at an overall low of 17 percent. It increased modestly in 2023, but as of last April, only 22 percent of Americans said they trust the government to do what is right.

  I was inspired by Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley's announcement of the largest dam removal project in U.S. History. Completed in October, four dams were deconstructed, three in California and one in Oregon. The Klamath River ran free for the first time in a hundred years. Four hundred miles opened for salmon and other native fish to return to their native habitat. A Chinook salmon was spotted in Californians swimming upstream, and a fall run of Chinook returned on the Oregon side of the Kamath Bason. The success of the project was "a testament to local Tribes, government partners, businesses, landowners, farmers and ranchers coming to deter to listen, learn, compromise, and beat the odds to remove dams. Merkley says it's his greatest accomplishment since taking public office. Kudos to Jeff and those who rallied around the cause. After reading about his accomplishments, I wondered what other legislators did.

  1) The 1921 success of the COVID-19 vaccine is the first thing that ccame to mind. It was made possible after decades of long-term government investment in basic science, preclinical development, and trials. When the pandemic hit, additional funds were directed to the NIH, which enabled them to work with Moderna to develop one of the vaccines. Billions of federal funds went into research and manufacturing capacity, allowing private companies to roll out the vaccine in record time. Without swift government action, the pandemic would have been much worse.

  2) Though the initiative engendered controversy and criticism, the passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act was a step toward guaranteeing all Americans access to adequate health care. Uninsured people dropped from 42.7 million to 25.8 million. I'm involved with a low-income family whose father is without insurance. He has been lying flat on his back for months, watching his family descend further into poverty. His ailment is curable but not possible without insurance. Still, the Affordable Care Act has made great strides. According to a study in JAMA Pediatrics, mortality rates have declined for infants and youth.

  3) Neither the Republicans nor Democrats got everything they wanted from the Increased Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but the $1.2 trillion bill passed with legislative compromises. The funds represent a serious effort to solve some of the nation's problems.

  $55 billion to provide access to clean drinking water

$65 billion to expand access to high-speed broadband internet service

$110 billion for road and bridge repair

$90 billion for public transit

$25 billion for airport improvements and $17 billion for port infrastructure and waterways

$7.5 billion to build out a national network of electric vehicle chargers

The Act is helping to replace a 1917 interstate bridge spanning the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, Washington, before it collapses.

  The Make It in America Act was added to the Infrastructure Act to make it harder for federal agencies to circumvent Buy America's requirements.

  4) Congressman John Garamendi introduced bills leading to the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, signed into law in 1922. The bipartisan bill helps clear congestion at US ports and protects American Jobs and manufacturers from foreign competition.

  5) Congressman Steve Cohen from Tennessee helped pass into law HR 7339, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Careers Act, directing the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), in coordination with relevant stakeholders, to develop classifications to categorize and describe AI-related work, identify gaps in the artificial intelligence workforce, and create a metric for measuring criteria and credentials for careers in artificial intelligence.

  6) The Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act included in the National Defense Authorization Bill in 2022 expedites requests by the National Guard to use Unmanned Aircraft Systems in case of fire, natural disaster search and rescue, and other emergencies. It safeguards human life by better understanding the extent of the tragedy.

  7) The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant attempt in U.S. history to combat climate change. It included a $360 billion package of clean-energy funding to curb methane emissions and pollution. The legislation also contained measures to lower prescription drug costs, allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with the pharmaceutical industry and imposing a $2,000 yearly cap on out-of-pocket prescription expenses.

  8) The bipartisan Elector Count Reform Act led by Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, was passed to prevent further presidential candidates from stealing elections. It made clear that the vice president cannot discount electoral votes and prevents competing slates of electors.

  9) The most rigid gun law in thirty years was signed. Congress passed the Safer Communities Act, led by Senators Chris Murphy, D-Conn, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to tighten gun laws. It aims to keep firearms away from dating partners convicted of abuse, clarifies gun sellers' requirement to register arms, and calls for background checks of 18- -to 21-year-olds that open the door to examining juvenile records.

10) The CHIPS and Science Act was major legislation to ensure the U.S. doesn't fall behind China regarding global competitiveness. It grew from a bill negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind, with a $280 billion investment in U.S. Semiconductor manufacturing, research, and development.

  11) The Respect for Marriage Act, led by Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, enshrines same-sex marriage., ensuring full benefits to couples regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin.

  Americans wouldn't be as despairing if the media didn't escalate divisiveness to increase advertising sales by luring viewers into their version of the news. Too often, news programs place legislators in boxing rings, cheering on as they fight it out. The reality is that most congressmen and women see their job as caring for the country's business. As in a marriage, compromise is necessary to coexist. In a democracy, there will always be differences that need to be ironed out. But as long as our representatives and senators reach across the aisle, they will improve the lives of the millions residing within our borders. Be sure to vote to achieve the kind of country you want to live in. What you do and how you act counts!

  Please share your thoughts on my blog site at eichingerfineart.com/blog

  Art is always for sale. Fractured America is a 24" by 24" deep canvas painting. Available shipped for $495. For information, contact me at [email protected]

  Books by Marilynne Eichinger can be reviewed and purchased on Amazon at BOOKS

References:

Pew Research Center Website (2025). Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024.  Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/06/24/public-trust-in-government-1958-2024/

  Jeff Merkely’s Friday announcement (2024) Welcoming the salmon home. retrieved from https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQXJszvMKqtGmhRTXWtqtLtqnnH

  Website ( 2024) Six Big Government Success Stories of the Past Two Decades. Decades. Government Executive. Retrieved from https://www.govexec.com/management/2022/06/six-big-government-success-stories-last-two-decades/367796/