The UN Disabilities Treaty

I'm shocked.  Yesterday, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the treaty from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  This treaty was modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act, and should have been approved easily - it seeks to encourage the rest of the world to make reasonable accommodations to allow people with disabilities access to transportation, jobs, housing, and other of life's necessities.

I'm ashamed to say that one of Nebraska's senators, Mike Johanns, voted against this treaty.  The only reason both of our senators didn't vote no is that Ben Nelson - our lame duck senator - is technically a democrat, and he's not a completely reprehensible human being.  The same can't be said for Johanns, apparently.  I don't know for sure, but I suspect our new senator, Deb Fischer, will be lock-step with the right wing on every issue.

The opposition to this treaty apparently centers around the concerns that it will somehow cause U.S. citizens to be governed by "foreign bureaucrats".   This is from the same crowd that is on the lookout for the black helicopters, which makes a lot of sense in the universe where Barack Obama is an immigrant socialist Nazi, bent on destroying the United States.  In the real world, where most of us live, there's NO chance that the United Nations will take over this country. 

Sadly, I don't believe Johanns is concerned with a crazy theory - this vote is all about politics.  While I believe the majority of Nebraskans - even the majority of Republicans - know there's nothing to worry about from the UN, the Tea Party types are a different story.  I'm guessing Johanns is scared that if he votes intelligently, he'll face a primary opponent backed by Sara Palin (as Fischer was this year), and lose his seat.  Clearly, Johanns is lacking the stones for that fight.

I wrote Johanns a scathing email - I'm sure that will cause him to rethink his position! (sarcasm intended)  Other than that, I don't know what else can be done.  I'll certainly support an opponent in his re-election bid, but there's little or no chance he'll actually lose.  This issue is not a big deal to most people (it will have no impact on anyone inside the United States, either way), so most people won't even hear about it.  I've got to believe most Nebraskans would be in favor of the  treaty, if they were aware of it, but that's not going to happen.  I can only hope that Johanns will eventually reveal his true character to the rest of the state.  That's the day his political career will end.