Maybe the problem isn't Obama emulating George W Bush. Maybe those who claim that the system is broken and out of control have a point. When my real-world systems get into this condition (which is thankfully only likely in the early stages of installation), we have but one solution: pull the plug. Stop it dead in its tracks. Kill it.
But that isn't an option when dealing with the train wreck which international finance has become due to American profligacy and international greed. The situational dilemma can be described as being similar to that presented in Jurassic Park: Shutting down the entire system to reboot means killing all the safety mechanisms which keep the 'Raptors and the T-Rex from running amok.
Internationally, the wise leaders are beginning to evolve new structures to handle the diplomatic and economic transactions which the US has ignored. Slowly, as if to avoid attracting the attention of American Raptors and Tyrannasauri, new structures and organizations are being created to protect themselves. If they are to survive, they have no other option. The steps taken so far indicate to me that they are on the correct track and that they will likely come to the workable solution.
But here in the US, can we dare hope to achieve this? I'm doubtful, for the actions being taken indicate a future of more systemic failure. Militias are reported to be growing in popularity, gun and ammunition sales are way up despite the economic downturn, and the rampant fearful emotions are being fanned by agitating billboard messages. Instead of thoughtful corrective response, emotional reaction is the only result of the American Calamity. There is no one at the national level showing that they understand the problem and are doing something to correct it. Only chaos can result from this deficiency, and the only preventative then is to shut it all down. This is not an acceptable solution, for it means the end of the Great Experiment.
This brings us back to how Obama isn't leading. He has repeatedly kicked his advocates in the teeth for daring to interfere with his sell-out to Big Money. Selling out to Big Money isn't working, for they always hold their hands out for more, sniffing "What have you done for us today, Obama?". He gets nowhere with those who didn't support him for racial, religious, or other biases no matter what he does, and he's disappointing the international community which backed him more strongly than did the domestic voters who elected him. His friends are angry, and his enemies are growing more scornful over how he's approached them like the supplicating political mendicant he is. To whom can he now turn for support?
Article comments
1 - pablo
I am a big fan of the brad blog, thanks for your article.
2 - roger nowosielski
Excellent article.
3 - Ruvy
Based on how his presidency is now going, in hindsight his Senate record was an accurate predictor. Obama regularly does something different from what he said he would. As a nation we should have seen this mess coming, but we chose not to look. We chose instead to believe in snake-oil nostrums of hope over harsh and unforgiving reality. The only problem is that when things get tough, as they now have, hope is a poor strategy to follow for corrective action. You never get the machine repaired and running this way.
This doesn't mean that John McCain would have been a better choice. He freely admitted during the campaign that he was not very educated in economics, and his involvement with Charles Keating and the Lincoln Savings scandal didn't speak well of his integrity. Crashing five very expensive and taxpayer-funded fighter-bombers doesn't demonstrate responsible stewardship of the national property either. I doubt that our economy would be doing very well under his administration. It would likely now be much worse.
If I said I didn't enjoy being able to rub your noses in the fact that "I tol' you so", I'd be lying. But nevertheless, I tol' you so. You guys had no real choice in 2008, you had no real choice in 2004, and it is only with difficulty that I assert that you had a real choice in 2000. The American system of choosing their elective king has been busted for a long, long time. Trouble is you haven't got time to fix it, and events will be such that you will not be able to concentrate on fixing it.