Nov

7

Libertas Aeternum: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of an Obama Presidency

November 7, 2008 |

Let me begin by saying that this is historic time for our country. We, like no nation on earth, have demonstrated our ability to overcome a tremendous hurtle in our history. The horrors of slavery can never be corrected. There is no going back and freeing, educating, employing, and empowering those whose lives were destroyed by the “peculiar institution.” However, we have taken a major step in demonstrating that despite our past our future promises hope and no matter how our ancestors arrived their sacrifices have provided us with tremendous opportunity.

With that said, there are some improvements that I expect to see almost immediately and many steps backwards that will come with time. Besides Obama’s historic win one party is now in virtual control of the entire government and that ensures that their agenda and not that of the American people will get pushed through. In the coming months Democrats will see how far they can push their “mandate” and if the Republicans approach is any indication they will push very far indeed and dig us even deeper into the hole.

The Good

The count down to disengagement has begun. President-elect Obama has two years to, at least, significantly draw down US troop presence in Iraq. Anything less and the electorate will turn quickly on the Democrats. The growth of independents (now representing about a 1/3 of the American people) has made elections must less predictable and will force Democrats to do the one thing they have been explicitly mandated to do: get us out of Iraq.

We were in desperate need of an image overhaul, both at home and abroad. While the support for Obama isn’t as all encompassing as it is being portrayed there is a great deal of optimism, especially here in Europe. If nothing else world leaders feel like they have someone they can work with and someone who is, hopefully, not as dogmatic as George W Bush. Change has come to America and hopefully our international attitude will change with it.

Maybe a dent will be made in the War on Drugs. This is just a pipe dream but I hope someone points out how hypocritical it would be of Obama to imprison drug offenders after admitting that he used marijuana and cocaine. While I think this complete waste of time, money, and effort and, quite frankly, injustice will continue I have a hope that some reform may now be possible.

The Bad

Our foreign policy really won’t change that much. Besides a change in the very unpopular war in Iraq we will continue to threaten Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Venezuela, and even Russia. America as world cop won’t change, only the rhetoric will. Sudan had better hold onto its hat as should the Democratic Republic of Congo. Obama was on board with the whole “Russia as aggressor” thing in the Georgia situation and bought fully into the deployment of the United States Navy into the Black Sea.

Obama is for the missile defense shield, maybe even more so than John McCain. No, I don’t mean the one we’re building in Alaska. I mean the one we’re trying to build in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia has threatened to move missiles into Europe to counter our moves but Mr. Obama does not seem deterred. He and his party still seem to think we are responsible for defending Europe and they will most likely shove this thorn deeper into Russia’s side.

We will still be in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East. Most likely our draw down in Iraq will not be a total withdrawal and we will maintain links between our bases in Iraq with our outposts in Kuwait, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. We will up our presence in Afghanistan and maybe even begin more active interventions in Pakistan. If Lebanon is invaded by Syria there is a real possibility of us striking them. That would result in a Muslim Brotherhood take over of Egypt and cause a major international row with that country. Israel, meanwhile, would feel even more threatened and act out in ways which would draw us deeper into conflict there.

Finally, Obama has discussed increasing international aid. While that sounds nice and humanitarian the reality is that it’s anything but. Aid is used to tie countries tighter to the United States and make sure they play the game by our rules. Most aid is handed out by giving countries massive loans, requiring them to hire American firms and American works for projects, and then charging interest on the payback. The result is all the money is funneled back to the United States and the country receiving the loan is bankrupted. This policy will continue, and maybe even be expanded, under an Obama Presidency.

The Ugly

Economically we will slilp even deeper. Our numbers will recover soon enough but largely through smoke and mirrors. Our national debt is roughly $11 trillion and climbing. Whether we like it or not that money will have to be paid back someday and if you think current conditions are bad just wait until the United States defaults on a loan (something we’ve never done).

The corporatist-state will grow exponentially. Big Banks and Big Government are drawing even closer together and the government is using taxpayer money to make sure their friends are taken care of. Democrats and Republicans came together in the spirit of bipartisanshit to pass the bailout and transfer banks’ debt to the taxpayer. Obama will expand this policy, probably into the insurance and surely into the healthcare sectors. Inflation will continue unchecked and nothing will be done to fix the fundamental problems of debt-financing.

Freedom of expression will take another big hit. Any criticism of Obama will be virtually unacceptable for at leat the first six to twelve months (if not more). There is a cult of personality that surrounds him and that could lash out violently at dissent. While a personality cult is not an indictment on its own if it suppresses dissent and prevents thoughtful criticism then it is one of the worst evils that can visited upon the American people. For a long time many of the fringe elements of the Democratic Party have discussed “hate speech” legislation. If they have managed to win over enough of their comrades then it could be possible that this kind of legilation will be rammed through Congress and rubberstamped by Obama.

While ultimately, I hope, such legislation is struck down by the Supreme Court there will be a period during which certain words, phrases, or even connotations will be unacceptable and who knows what they will be. Such an event would be very harmful to the American people and could be the first step to restricting the First Amendment.

Speaking of Amendments, the Second Amendment will again come under attack. Democrats will try to pass more sweeping legislation and probably will succeed. Again, this should be struck down by the Court, but for a while law abiding Americans will be restricted in their arms while cops and criminals gain a distinct advantage. The idea that criminal elements will suddenly decide to abide by this government policy is laughable and only those who would use weapons honestly will be hard, gun prohibition will be as successful as the prohibition of drugs or alcohol.

Conclusion

We got the cosmetic change we needed and, hopefully, destroyed a major pyschological barrier. However, I fear what will come to pass under President Obama. I don’t believe there will be any real significant differences and I don’t think the status quo has been shifted. I remain cautiously hopeful that I am wrong but I fear that I’m not and I’m afraid the “change” we were promised will not come to pass.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Libertas Aeternum: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of an Obama Presidency”

  1. 1
    miracle Says:
    November 7th, 2008 at 9:55 am

    We’ve had a democratic controlled congress for a couple of years now and they were going to save us all. At least that’s what they said. They really haven’t done anything to help our financial situation and their approval rating is right down there with “W”.

    I think they’ve gotten a pass up until now by blaming everything on the Bush administration. What are they going to do when that convenient scapegoat is gone?
    Hard to play the blame game when your party is the one in control of everything.

    I think we can expect the power to change the next election cycle. There will be Republican and Independent(hopefully) congressman/senators replacing the finger pointing democrats.

  2. 2
    shooterb Says:
    November 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am

    We need an informed public to hold government accountable. I won’t speculate about the things I think will or will not happen under the new administration & Congress. I’ll just hope that with increasing interest from the public, maybe we’re headed in the right direction. When people start to care enough to get involved, that’s when change is possible.

    Just one note - personally, I don’t think thoughtful criticism of Obama will be unacceptable. As long as he is being held accountable for his actions, and not ridiculous conspiracy theories and slander. And that should be the same for any President or politician.

    Government isn’t going to fix everything, nor should we expect it to. But as long as people are more interested in proving their point than finding real solutions, our politics will reflect that dissension.

    shooterbs last blog post..Mistake Mail

  3. 3
    demonicume Says:
    November 7th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    “I hope someone points out how hypocritical it would be of Obama to imprison drug

    offenders after admitting that he used marijuana and cocaine”

    no one felt the need to go after bush. isn’t he on tape admitting to trying drugs? besides, who hasn’t tried something? Obama doesn’t make laws, he executes them. he will follow the laws handed to him by our freely elected congress or quit. its that simple. he doesn’t get to chose which laws he wants to enforce - thats not his role.

    Freedom of expression will take another big hit. Any criticism of Obama will be virtually unacceptable for at leat the first six to twelve months

    as well it should. the media has outlived its purpose. MSM distorts the concept of the word ‘report’. It doesn’t help that 99% of all news outlets are owned by 5 companies. reporters take shots at Obama simply because they can. like the news outlets that had people thinking that Hillary had any chance when it was mathmatically impossible… like McCain had any shot. Obama had doubled up the electoral count before 2% of the precincts had closed or reported - and yet there was CNN with their SCENERIOS. let the man do his job before we criticize him for something

  4. 4
    demonicume Says:
    November 7th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

    Democrats will try to pass more sweeping legislation and probably will succeed.

    did you hear about the kid who killed himself testing out an UZI last week? his father and the gun instructor were standing close enough to him to get burned by the brass. we need gun legislation. we should not only slam down on hunter who think they need .50 caliber rounds, but force companies to police their own guns. I live near charlestion, SC - guess how many m-4’s fall off the truck on their way to Fort Jackson? if you really wanna know, go down on king Street around 3 am. you’ll get a great idea of why we need gun control. better yet - name the last time anyone successfully defended their home with a firearm?

  5. 5
    rusirious13 Says:
    November 8th, 2008 at 4:28 am

    Miracle: I agree. No excuses now. Hopefully in a couple years the American people will hold them accountable but not by switching back to the Republicans. Instead, getting in some independents/3rd party people. We need serious change and I don’t believe it’s going to come from the establishment parties.

    Shooterb: Yeah, there are some good websites out there like opencongress.org and others. The internet could be a tremendous tool to monitor and keep tabs on our elected officials. After all they are supposed to be working for us and they are using our money.

    I did over react a little bit to the thoughtful criticism part I think. My view is slightly skewed by the fact that I’m in college and around most of my peers if you aren’t pro-Obama you’re automatically a moron and your views don’t deserve to be heard.

    Watching part of South Park on my stolen internet calmed my fears a bit.

    Demon: They should have. And I know Obama is the law enforcer not creator (even though we elect Presidents based on the laws they’ll create or amend). However, he has a bully pulpit from which to speak and a supposedly sympathetic Congress to influence.

    Also, he is responsible for submitting budget proposals and he could propose defunding certain aspects of the drug war or shifting resources to more rehabilitation orientated programs. The Imperial Presidency is back with vigor and Obama can use it to do tremendous good.

    It’s too bad when people are harmed by guns but I don’t think a straight up gun ban or all these rules will prevent crime. Gun accidents will still happen even after trigger locks and caliber restrictions are put in place. And criminals aren’t suddenly going to give up their guns because the law says they have to. In fact, they’ll probably salivate knowing that communities have only the police to rely on for protection.

    This woman killed a guy who broke into her house to rape her a second time.

    But that’s not the point. The point is that the population is supposed to be armed so that we can over throw the government when it becomes necessary.

    This is a good place for my feelings on gun control.

  6. 6
    thedan Says:
    November 8th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    Miracle had some great points, but I don’t believe the criticism will be loud enough IF the downward spiral continues. Because the Dems have a great relationship with the media they will receive the benefit of the doubt (unless you are FoxNews), if something goes wrong. Any wrongdoing will continue to be pushed toward the previous administration. The Dems are in a great position, let’s see if they can capitalize.

    People also have to remember that we are dealing with politicians which is a word people tend to frown upon. Not every politician has been able to keep their word and that said there is more excitement in the US than there needs to be.

    In Canada, people are glad to see Obama in power. It has been overwhelming.

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