I am curious...How many people think that they have gotten the "Change" that Obama promised?
First off, let me start by saying that Obama gave me the one major change I wanted out of the last election cycle - an end to the presidency of George W Bush. So for me, anything else that changes (for the better) is gravy. For me he has done some great things to help protect women's reproductive choice (GRAVY!).
The reason I ask this is because for so many people, they voted for a dream in 2008 not reality.
- They voted for the troops to be magically transported out of dangerous warzones. However, they got the very approach that McCain promised - a coordinated withdrawal of combat troops while leaving a peacekeeping force to assist the Iraqis that would be withdrawn (hopefully) in a year or so but would stay as long as needed if something changed (*cough* remember McCain's 100 years comment?)
- They voted to end Guantanamo. However the reality is the closure of the prison leaves 100s of terrorists without anywhere to go (we don't want them here, their countries dont want them). The prison is set to close in a year but where will those 200+ prisoners go? I personally doubt that they will make their way to mainland America so they will probably end up at one of the secret prisons we run (or our allies run on our behalf).
- They voted for a new kind of "non-partisan" politics. However we have all seen that both the Republicans and the Democrats (Obama included) are firmly entrenched in their party alliances and wars. Just because Pres Obama declares a bill he wrote to be "non-partisan" does not make it true. You can not expect people to go completely against their ideology and beliefs to accept legislation that is radically different. It didn't work under Republican rule and it wont work under Democrat rule.
- They voted for an end to lobbyists that are beholden to large corporations and the rich. President Obama even declared that his administration would be lobbyist free. However, he backtracked on that promise within days of making it by hiring multiple lobbyists who owe companies like Raytheon massive favors.
- They voted for Obama because he would restore the USA's standing in the world and bring peace. The reality is that plenty of countries simply don't like us and they haven't liked us for generations - with or without George W Bush.
Now, I don;t want President Obama to fail. In fact, I want him succeed. I just know that there were a LOT of naive people that believed Obama to be this mythical figure that could solve the world's woes. They believed he would bring peace while protecting us from all harm. They believed he would bring an economic revival that would make the poor rich (or at least middle class). They thought he would fix our educational system. They thought he had magic in him that would fix everything. So I wonder this, at what point will their fantasy view of Obama end and reality set in?
Worse yet, will their inevitable disillusionment with Obama lead to a return to their apathetic voting practices? I would hate to see Sarah Palin come into power because Democrats decide to not vote (thats how we got Bush!)
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Sadly, many very naive people that don't have a clue as to how our government works voted in the last election.
I don't think that all will succumb to disillusionment but I am worried that enough will fall into that trap and not vote in the next election. Unfortunately, it was these non-voters that lost the 2000 and 2004 elections. Losing them again will help put a Republican back in office.
It was a beautiful thing to see so many people who thought their voice meant nothing taking part in a FREE democratic process. It made me proud and happy. But then it just kept creeping up, that feeling that even if Obama kept every promise he made in the election, and he did it all in a month and half, people were still going to be dissappointed or very eager to stand up and say "See, told you he couldn't do it." All I can say is the change happend but like all things in a Democracy it takes time and patience to make it felt and actually turn peoples thinking and situations around.
Just a thought, but maybe we could stay on topic. I am guilty here too, I know, but Ken you are just too much fun.
Which is more damaging to participative democracy (and to rational civilization)???
a) people who vote enthusiastically but don't quite understand how govt works?
b) people who replace discussion with rabid potshots lacking logic or fact?
As to the original question, I suspect that Obama has a long-term change agenda that he has not been open about. And being a savvy politician who is a newbie in Washington, he is being hesitant about doing new things too fast.
Real changes may not be obvious.
Consider some preparatory changes in one area - relations between the USA and the nations of the mideast and south asia. Obama has (carefully and ambiguously) changed the language of diplomacy toward this part of the world. A shift is being given new foundations - away from threat and isolation and toward engagement based on common interests.