So, all you 20 somethings who thought that Obama was beyond reproach, what do you think of him now? I’m guessing nothing since you probably are not following what’s going on with the economy and such.** The editorial entitled “That thud you heard? Obama falling to Earth” by C Krauthammer this week is bang on. He’s generally a Republican lap dog, but he certainly tells it like it is in this article.
The opening quote from the Messiah himself pretty much sets the tone:
“A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe.” – President Obama, Feb 4, 2009
So, Obama’s administration will stop the fearmongering and bring hope, will it? Hmm, that quote sounds pretty scary to me. He is using fear to rush this bill just as Bush and every other politician have always done to get their way. It’s classic. Notice the RUSH to get it passed, like NOW, before more scrutiny can happen? Yah. Business as usual.
“An ostentatious executive order banning lobbyists was immediately followed by the nomination of at least a dozen current or former lobbyists to high position.” – C Krauthammer in article cited above
And of course the spending bill… Yah, nothing new there, either:
[Obama promised] “…a new politics where the moneyed pork-barreling and corrupt logrolling of the past would give way to a bottom-up, grass-roots participatory democracy. That is what made Obama so dazzling and new. Turns out the “fierce urgency of now” includes $150 million for livestock insurance.” – C Krauthammer article
I was really hoping for at least a few months of honeymoon, with Obama still shining Messiah-like and doting upon his followers… Nah, we got 2.5 weeks.
Turns out that Messiah Obama is indeed only a mere mortal. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
I direct these posts to the Obama-as-Superman T Shirt wearing 20 somethings simply because they are the ones who crowed the loudest upon the Messiah’s victory and now they are suspiciously quiet. Look, kids, it takes more than casting a vote, you know? You’ve got to PARTICIPATE in your government. Which would include being able to talk about the issues, btw.
So, get out there and discuss. Write letters to your Reps. Make sure to hold this administration to the promises it made. That is what participation is all about.
**In your defence, 20 somethings, I had no idea what was going on in my 20s, either. I had no idea that unemployment was over 10% in 1982, for instance. [Clarification: I was 17 in late 1982. What I meant was that I didn’t know about the recession in the 80s (or much of anything else) when I was in my 20s.] I direct my comments towards this group very pointedly because of all the snotty attitude I put up with (even being called CONSERVATIVE!!!) during the election when I was pointing out these very things that are happening now and getting shit for it. Shadowblind, I’m looking at YOU. :-)
My fear for the 20somethings is the possible real punchline to the election…
When they start receiving the snail mails going as follows:
“Greetings from the President of the United States. You are hereby inducted, hereby ordered to report for induction.”
Yep…The Draft comes back to deal with our strained military…and this time women get the notices too(Obama called for such in the campaign).
Wont that be a pie in the face to the 20somethings who voted based on opposition to war?
Oh yes, the only other method out of this economic morass we’re in besides mad printing of $$$ is a major war somewhere…War is Good for Business…
I agree with what you are saying…And only have one thing to say:
This country is fucked!!!
Print me some money, Obama, I need it bad.
[I don’t know this guy, but I like what he says and I like his blog. Check him out! -A]
Real participation isn’t just talking and begging “your” reps for mercy, it’s all of us voting for the laws we want, like the Swiss have done since 1891.
The most evolved project for a hybrid direct/representative democracy is led by former Sen. Mike Gravel.
Pete Seeger has endorsed it, among other luminaries. Pete says “Participation, that’s the salvation of the human race.” YOU can participate at http://Vote.org.
Im so reminded of the fox newscast where they had the florida woman: “he gonna pay my mortgage, he gonna pay my gas bill, I not gonna have to worry about nothin!” yeah…yuck it up assholes
I really wish you wouldn’t lump us all together. Some of us 20 somethings are complete fools you know. :P
Signed,
The 25 year old libertarian
You are the only 25 yr old Libertarian on the planet, you know that, right? You should always assume that this does NOT apply to you!! You are a testament to bein’ raised RIGHT! LOL
Shadowblind is Liz… She accused me of being conservative and freaked out that I dared to point out any possible negatives of an Obama presidency. She’s also one of the 20 somethings that is not capable of having political discourse.
She is representative of a group of people that I know who are all blow and no show. They all happen to be 20 somethings.
OH, and I think you meant “some of us are NOT complete fools”.
:-P
well the honeymoon is over elsewhere as well. If you havent noticed the EU suddenly got infuriated at Obama for his “buy American” shit. apparently we cant even focus on doing something about trade. goes to show YOU GET WHAT YOU VOTE FOR
Ah yes, I meant some of us are not fools.
I’m sure that if you give me a few err.. weeks, that I can find another 20 something libertarian. There must be others!
And sides, I was raised by a psychopath mother who sucks the government teat for all it’s worth.
technically, liz won’t be a 20 anything for a few more months…. and heather, sometimes the best thing you can do is learn from a bad example.
Ok, Angela, I know for a fact that you were not a 20 something in 1982. Although some of the seniors when we were freshmen sure could have passed for that.
The biggest problem with the under-30 generation (and a significant portion of our own generation) is the complete lack of critical thinking. The ability to analyze a topic from both sides is sorely lacking. We have become a nation that is focused on form over function. So what if a political candidate has no demonstrated ability to handle the job he is seeking? He sure do talk pretty, so he must be qualified.
I’ve added clarification to the post just for YOU, Scott! :-) I’m older than you, but not THAT much!
And yes, I agree that it’s lack of critical thinking. Judging by the lack of any sort of skills taught in the public school system now, I’m not surprised. Ooo, you’ll love my post about the Knox County school system [soon]… My niece goes to Karns and she’s dumber than a box of rocks. Did you know they do NOT teach the multiplication tables any more?? I shit you not. She is 12 and when I asked her what 10% of 100 was, her answer was 100. OY VAY. She couldn’t do basic addition or subtraction, either. :-( I’m sure this is not unusual. My friend is always bitching about the shit education her kid gets down here. She has to pretty much home school him despite his being in public school.
If you have a dumb populace, you’ll have dumb leaders.
I’m just sayin’.
Which is why we chose Maryville when we moved back here. Much better school system. I enjoyed my time at KHS (for the most part), but I wouldn’t send my child there.