(no subject)
The cycle seems to repeating itself all over again. Seven years after one of the greatest presidencies ever, the average American voter has completely lost their mind, ignoring reason, and choosing rhetoric.
But then maybe I am wrong.
An Obama presidency could be one of the most catastrophic events in recent history, possibly comparable to the George W. Bush reign. How can it be that a country has gone giddy for a good-looking athletic young man? How can it be that a land of continental proportions has become so enamoured with a man who talks in slogans and not in concrete? How can it be that so many people would so blindly entrust their future in a man everyone knows absolutely nothing about?
Are our neighbours to the south remotely aware that Obama stands against free trade? That Obama wants nothing short of eliminating NAFTA? Yet at the same time he states he is for a “new path”, a “new direction” to bring America back into a family of nations. Are Americans aware of that there is a disconnect between criticizing free trade, whilst seeking international dialogue. Trade and foreign policy go hand in hand. Back tracking on NAFTA will be one of the best ways to piss off Canada and Mexico (America’s two largest trading partners), whilst also ensuring the North American free trade block remain at a relative disadvantage to the European Union, as well as other emerging trade zones.
But then maybe I am wrong.
Obama claims he stands for change; however, to date there have been no clear specifics on what his “change” means. Where will he stand on Iraq after a sudden pull out? Does he realize a swift troop pullout will create a massive power vacuum between Persia, Asia Minor, Arabia, and greater Russia? Does he understand that this will not be Saigon in April 1975? Baghdad will butcher the last US troops to leave, the last troops left in an ethnic mud zone on the edge of the Middle East.
But then maybe I am wrong.
What is Obama’s stance on Israel? On Palestine? How about trade with China and India? And what about agricultural subsidies and Africa? Does he realize taking a protectionist stance against US trade partners would be practically impossible, simply because Americans owe too many hundreds of billions to their partners (and their enemies) to ever take a tough stance? There is more at stake than just Washington when it comes to the global economy. How innocent he sounds in proclaiming a “yes we can when I get to Washington”. He sounds just like a boy scout telling his friends he can tie a sailor’s knot on land.
But then maybe I am wrong.
Foreign policy aside, (after all most Americans have no idea just how relevant the rest of the world is to their daily lives) one has to ask what Obama intends to achieve with his health care plan. From the perspective of a citizen living in a wealthy and sophisticated social democracy, I cannot understand how a leader could propose that his health care plan is better than his opponent’s, when his plan will leave people without coverage, and his opponent’s will cover all.
Health care is as fundamental as education. Everyone should pay for it, even if you don’t use it. In fact one could argue health care to be even more important than education, for the simple reason that someday everyone will need it.
But then maybe I am wrong.
The American media has yet to really grill Obama like they have grilled his opponents (McCain, Clinton). Their press continues to pour out endless pretty pictures of the young man waving to supporters with a backdrop of screaming college children, and wailing black mothers. Listening to his discourse is like hearing a church minister sing; it is nothing short of hypnotic.
The media has been hypnotized by a pretty boy who needs a good grilling. Americans deserve better from their media, they deserve answers to hard questions, and they deserve hearing this man out to see just how well he ticks under pressure. Just how well he can handle a not so pretty picture.
But then maybe, just maybe, I am right.