Let's face it: it's easier to raise a war whoop than to think long-term. It's easier to invade an Iraq or a Poland or an anywhere else than to find higher ground at home, to create or strengthen a civil and just society. And in this hyper-modern world, it's far easier to tear down than to build up -- quickly.
In the context of today's world, Obama is doing just fine. He has consistently adhered to a Christian realist worldview along the lines of Reinhold Niebuhr, best articulated in his Nobel Peace Prize Speech earlier this month. A few snippets: We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth that we will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes. . . As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King's life's work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there is nothing weak, nothing passive, nothing naive in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.
But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history, the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.
And so the imperfections of domestic politics, too, and the limits of territorial democracy wherein a lightly populated state like one of the Dakotas can wield the same power (in the US Sentate) as a densely peopled one like New York or California or Michigan. Environmental issues, universal health care, banking reforms and all longterm negotiations -- however enlightened -- must include compromise dealings with vested interests, greased officials, short-sighted buffoons, ignorant hayseeds. Given this, given that President Obama has been in office for less than a year, I keep the faith, feel optimistic about the future and support Mr. Obama's efforts with great enthusiasm. How about you?
Today's Rune: Joy.
10 comments:
I've generally liked what he has tried to do. I think it's ridiculous how much hassle he's getting for trying to do what's right. Ignorent folks indeed.
In the same speech was a call for new ideas; Obama's clearly unsettled about the "compromise" that is war.
How can we do better?"
Can we really invade Afghanistan with aid and structures and avoid a long military excursion? What is the fastest, most cost effective way of getting the place to peace? Is it the war?
I'm fascinated that Obama seems to be calling for new ideas. Perhaps he needs more martial philosophy? 'Cos the best of the philosophy now is giving him this unsatisfactory solution. So, scour the Asian martial arts. Literally invite experts to the white house. Ask Colin Powell. The Dalai Lama. whatever works. :)
On his domestic policy issues he has taken the lead how? The current bill that they all are touting as a new beginning is a step into the abyss and his financial reforms are doing what? The medical industry is going to lose their anti-trust exemptions when?
See he is the president of all the people and I understand that very much. But he was also elected with a specific mandate to change the way business is done inside the belt way. He as president is also the leader of his party and there is compromise in the caucus and then there is being compromised in the caucus...which has happened to the people who have to live with his and the rest of them decisions?
Why we get to continue to be just the same old profit stream for industries that would have us as cows penned in the milking shed.
Sorry I began to lose my ability to believe when I read the specifics of his back door deal with PhrMA. All he has done is reduced the cost of prescription drugs for some and replaced that profit with tax payer dollars. And that my wise friend seems to me to be nothing more but the same old same old.
I lost all faith when I realized that the people who formed his campaigns economic policy had all been replaced once in office by the very same people who caused the melt down in the first place. sounds to me like the same old same old.
THE GOP CAN'T STAND THAT THEY LOST AND AN INTELLIGENT MAN IS IN OFFICE. THE POPULACE WAS QUIET PRETY MUCH DURING THE BUSH YEARS EVEN THO HE TOOK THE COUNTRY INTO TWO WARS WTHOUT FINDING A WAY TO PAY FOR THEM. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO BE TAXED BUT NOW THE DEBT IS SKY HIGH. MOST OF THAT WAS INHERITED BY PREISIDENT OBAMA. HE IS TRYING TO PUSH THE BOULDER UP THE HILL BUT THE REPUBLICANS WON'T GIVE HIM ANY HELP BE IT HEALTH CARE OR THE NATIONS ECONOMY. LISTENING TO SOME OF THE SENATORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE I AM STRUCK AS TO HOW CHILDISH AND OR STUPID THEY ARE. IS THAT A REFLECTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR THEM?
Erik, I am one of the ignorant. This I DO know--or want. End the war, save the mortgage challenged people from forclosure, get in a realistic health plan, and fund mental health care. That's it for now...
I couldn't have said it better. I'm working on a post about it all. Maybe the fact that I studied political science (bachelor's and master's) colors my thoughts on it all. The far left is whining that they didn't get everything they wanted. Welcome to the real world. They probably won't get that pony they wanted for Christmas either.
Thanks, all for the comments! Much appreciated == Afghanistian is a tough one, I agree. And Mark, WM, also agreed about a lot; though I haven't lost faith, it does make one take pause. I hope they refine health care, and certainly wish they'd have extended Medicare to 55, and approve of Canadian and etc. generic pills. My q. is, what happened to the ram it through with 51 votes option? The "reconciliation" option? The break the bill into parts, pass some with 60 and some with 51? And could a filibuster really kill it, or would it just be a longer more grueling slog? The nuts and bolts will have to be done better, especially when the Dems can no longer muster 60 votes in the senate next year. By the way, I can't stand Lieberman.
Erik the filibuster was happening which is what the 60 votes broke the day before, the vote was to end debate. The senate moved to stop debate and taking amendments to vote on.
Next up for the bill is going to be on the "Managers Package" which is where all of the details that bought the last 7 or so votes to bring the needed 60 or so. Lieberman for example as far as I can tell got 100 million for anew hospital for his insurance
industry buddies to milk, Nebraska got some tidbits, Michigan got a bone, LA got a big one and a few others.
Once that passes the next and final vote for the bill as it stands is to accept or reject it.
Then it moves to conference between the house and the senate where the final merged product will be sent back to both houses for acceptance or rejection. If accepted then it goes to Obama for his signature, his let it sit on his desk untouched for ten days which passes it or his veto.
The idea of not using cloture is that if this turns into a great thing for the citizens it provides political capital for the Democrats and two Independents. If it turns into a huge money pit that has no real insurance industry reform or overly burdensome to the public treasury then the pain gets spread among all Democrats and the Republicans win the congress back.
If on the other hand it works, costs are contained , the(future) deficit is reduced then the Dems can point at the months worth of obstruction the Republicans have always used to push their view of legislative policy.
It is Reid, standing at the craps table of politics and rolling the dice for politcal gain, and the dice have not stopped their roll yet but by this time next year EVERYONE will be using thos still rolling dice to say "see I told you so" while in the mean time...Americans will still be dying, still paying huge fees and costs for needed treatments and costs.
Personally I think that the reccission is going to go way the hell up in the next 6 months because the Insurance companies only have that amount of time to protect the company assets.
The duplicity from both sides has been the most telling thing in all of this. I now know that as a citizen I have no voice, no power, and the government has been wholly given over to the "paid for" mouths in congress.
Even if the political scientists think it is just a grand thing. They after all started the government by lobbyist way of life in America.
Well, dude (Mark), that makes one want to drink a nice big bottle of Everclear. Seriously, thanks for the breakdown. The Senate seems designed for such antics. The House, unwieldy as it is, at least is more representative of the greater population. The republic is plucked, however.
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