The Votes Heard ‘Round the World

Many of us are familiar with the phrase, "the shot heard ‘round the world."  The phrase originates in Ralph Waldo Emerson's Concord Hymn, 1837 and relates to the start of the American Revolutionary War:

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard 'round the world.

On April 19^th, 1775, on Lexington Square the British Major John Pitcairn and his six light Infantry companies faced about seventy colonial militiamen. The details of the fight, and who fired the first shot, are disputed. What is clear is that this was "the shot heard 'round the world."

On Tuesday, Jan. 19th 2010, almost 235 years later in the same state where the phrase was coined, votes were cast that changed the landscape of politics (at least for this election cycle).  I know it's extreme to say that this election had the same seismic effect as the battle that occurred in 1775 but what is clear:

1. People are frustrated and feel government is not listening to them
2. Healthcare although an important issue, cannot be viewed as one big massive spending bill, with over 2,000 pages and no one yet able to articulate what it actually will cost or mean to the average American
3. With bailouts and a never-ending sea of debt, our economic ship is taking on more water making the public feel very uncomfortable.

What has been set in motion in Massachusetts is sending a strong signal to the rest of our elected officials.  Healthcare reform is now on hold, the current administration is retooling and the American public is struggling to get their "sea legs" about them in the never ending economic merry go round we are on.  We live in interesting times that requires great thought and perseverance. 

Just as the "shot heard ‘round the world" set in motion tremendous change in our country.  The voters in Massachusetts have set in motion an interesting political environment for us observe and participate in.  We live in the most uncertain times, and it requires all of us to engage in problem solving.