The Obama Presidency: One Man’s Perspective

The Obama presidency, I feel, will be regarded historically as quite successful. I don’t think his administration has touted his success very well, and I don’t think the media lifts up his successes well either; that doesn’t sell as well as negatives, but let’s look at his record so far.

   

 During his term the Iraq war has ended, the country has been pulled for a very serious depression, the auto industry was rescued, Osama Bin Laden was eliminated and the biggest accomplishment – a Health Care Reform Act was passed. That’s impressive.

Other accomplishments include: ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” and other civil rights issues, improved fuel efficiency standards, more children were insured (4 million – SCHIP), we have improved student loans, a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created and Wall Street reforms were passed, the torture programs that began under Bush were stopped, our image with other countries were vastly improved, the START treaty with Russia was created, educational programs ie. Race to the Top Incentive Program was implemented, sanctions on Iran were made, support to veterans wee significantly increased, two Supreme Court Justices were appointed, significant investments in green energy were made and the list goes on. For a big list, 319 documented accomplishments, you can go here .

It is tempting to compare the Obama presidency to the FDR presidency and from that standpoint, I don’t think Obama would fare well. His progressive agenda is not as extensive and not nearly as deeply systemic as the reforms made by FDR. Let me take two major examples, health care and education.

For years presidents have been trying to pass health care reforms. We certainly have models for good healthcare reforms in European countries, especially the Scandinavian countries. During the Clinton administration Hilary Clinton tried to get a more progressive health plan passed and failed. So, kudos go to Obama but it really does not solve the problem of the cost of health care. It does provide health care for more people as it should but the ridiculously high costs remain to the delight of insurance companies. We need a single payer system for these to come down. Obama, I think is a realist, he got what he could get in today political climate. It was not great but it was a step forward.

The same is true in education. More has been done in education, especially higher education than most people realize. There is a lot of money available in government programs for college education that is not applied for. But the real problem, like health cares remains, the incredibly high costs of education. In years past, as when I was in college, anyone could afford to go to college. You could work your way through or take out moderate loans that could be paid off without undue duress. Today’s costs are making college education something available only to upper classes.

The problems of the Obama presidency are the problems of our society. Obama is a realistic and has tailored his presidency pragmatically to our times where the wealthy essentially control the economy and the political arena. He has worked around that oligarchical system to produce some progressive movements, but they are not long-term solutions. We still have an infrastructure that is falling apart and an educational and health system that best serves the wealthy. We have a system that creates a crumbling middle class and poor folk in dire straits with little hope. People are mad, but manipulated media bought and paid for by the wealthy they often are mad at the wrong folk and do little to improve their own lot.

One hopes that the populace will become sufficiently well educated to seize control of the structure of a democracy and make a progressive agenda that works for the people viable again. That was what happened during the time of FDR. The vision of social reform was laid before the people, the political vision was shared, it was fought against, but it won out and the country flourished and grew. It is a vision best captured and shared today by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Warren isn’t running and pundits say Sanders can’t win. Can it happen again? One can hope.

  

Pro Anti-War

“The world is starving for American leadership. But America has an anti-war president.” ~ John Boehner at Capitol Hill press conference March 26, 2015

I would hope that most folk would find that statement by our Speaker of the House very odd. He was trying to demean the president for being an “anti-war” president. Shouldn’t all presidents be anti-war? Shouldn’t all members of the government be anti-war representatives? Shouldn’t all members of the armed forces be anti-war? Shouldn’t all citizens be anti-war? If we are not I think we are in big trouble.

In fact, that is one of the most prominent problems we faced in international relationships. A lot of countries see us as a nation that goes to war all too easily. We are seen as a war mongering nations rightly or wrongly.

We certainly spent enough on war issues. In 2012, according to the War Resisiters League, we budgeted $673 for the military, then we added $166 military expenses by other parts of the government. Added to this is about $440 billion in interest on past military expenses. So, they come up with $1.3 trillion in military expense 50% of our general budget.

Recently I have heard more such statements by political figures, which causes me worry. For example, Senator Rand Paul encourages his colleagues to decrease spending (social services) but also advocates increased military spending to the tune of $190 billion in the next two years (see his amendment to the budget.) He is joined in this outlook with Senator Marco Rubio, also seeking the presidency. He also wants to increase military spending.

I would hope that most folk are anti-war.

                                                                   =  =  =

"As far as I am concerned, war itself is immoral." --U.S. WWII General Omar Bradley 

"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. " --James Madison 

"I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind." --Thomas Jefferson

"My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth." --George Washington

"There never was a good war or a bad peace." --Benjamin Franklin

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." --Dwight D. Eisenhower

"War is the greatest plague that can affect humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it." --Martin Luther

"Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary." --The Mahatma Gandhi

DON’T BITE ME

Before giving the cats their morning treats Meugh announced to them, “Ah me wee cats I have something to say to you before you get your morning goodies and I want you to pay close attention as it is very important.”

The cats all gathered at Meugh’s chair and peered at him giving the indication that they were seemingly paying attention.

Meugh continued, “Lamont, Pawline and Patchtricia, you are not to bite me or scratch me or by any other manner draw blood upon my person for the next week.”

Lamont, Pawl, and Patch, watched him very intently seemingly hanging on every word that their human servant said, much to Meugh’s delight.

“You see my fine felines,” Meugh lectured. Next Tuesday I am going to a hospital to have a large kidney stone removed surgically. Since I am the hospital, a place known to have sick people in it, and therefore laden with all types of germs, bacteria and various other microorganisms that can do bodily harm it is important that I have no gaping wounds, scratches or bites upon my person. Is that clear?”

Patch with her typical expression of questioning then asked, via telepathy obviously, “What is a pital?”

“Huh.” Meugh said a bit dumbfounded. “Pital?”

“Yes, pital,” Patch messaged, “I know perfectly well what a house is, we live in one of those.” Gazing at an obviously confused Meugh she continued. “You said you were going to a housepital, so I ask again, what is a pital.”

Meugh just sat there in his chair looking confused. So, all three cats put their psychic brains together and verily shouted into Meugh’s cranium, “Treats. Give us treats. Give us treats now!”

At this point Meugh reached over and began handing out the treats to Patch, Lamont, and Paw. After they had their treats, then Lamont crawled up into Meugh’s lap and bit him and then jumped down to the floor and left laughing a sneaky little cat laugh. Paw and Patch laughed too, they thought that was very funny.

Meugh heard a meowing voice in his head that said, “Bite me!”

        

Human Entitlements

Cats may have entitlements and so do human beings. (see previous article.)

I regularly hear the term entitlement used in a derogatory manner. It is used to demean those folk who are seen as abusing our hard earned tax dollars to be parasites upon others. For instance, students and young people in general can be viewed as having too many entitlements. Lazy buggers would to work and appreciate all that we do for them.

Most commonly we sneer about the entitlements of those who make use of our welfare system and abuse that system. The lazy welfare mother, who gets paid for having children rather than working. The drug addict benefits from rehab programs. We complain about those who use food stamps to augment their buying power. The list goes on an on and you and I have probably used them in this negative manner as a way of expressing our superiority over others.

But we have entitlements as citizens of the country and as human beings. Our country was build, in part, upon these assumptions of entitlements: entitlements of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; basics of the constitution and its preamble.

In this country we are entitled to find work that we find rewarding. We are entitled to education, to improve ourselves and those around us. We are entitled to voting for those who share our values and beliefs. We are entitled to decent health care. We are entitled to not be abandoned with life goes wrong for us. We are entitled to have our end years without undue strife. We have many entitlements that we should expect and is a part of citizenry.

When we poo-poo the abusers of entitlements as being deadbeats do we also include those who do in fact, get more than their fair share of the bounty in the land of opportunity. Do we complain in the same manner about CEOs who get outrageous salaries at the expense of the workers in the industry? Do we complain about bankers and Wall Street investors who take public money when the gamble and lose? Do we complain when politicians cater more to those who contribute extravagantly to the campaigns?

Well, we do complain about the later but not in the same way. We somehow seem to thing their false sense of entitlements is not as bad as the down and outers. The abusers of our social welfare systems are small in number and take little from the overall good these programs provide. In contrast, the harm done but the greedy of our society do incomparable harm to society. The 1% ers are not entitled to govern our society, but they are. Grumbling about the abuses of those who receive government entitlements just removes our focus from the fact that we live now in an oligarchy rather than a democracy.

Cat Entitlements

“I believe in cat entitlements,” Announced Lamont one day.

“Cat entitlements? What’s that,” asked Patchtricia?

“Well, furry liter mate, just because we are cats and live with human beings, we should have certain inalienable rights,” answered Lamont.

“That sounds interesting,” said Pawline joining the conversation. “Please tell us more and get specific Lamont.”

“Well,” orated Lamont warming to his topic, “to begin with we have basic entitlements: food, shelter and clothing. Umm, forget clothing that’s not necessary in our case, in fact, clothing is objectionable.”

“True, true,” purred Patch. “I totally agree.”

“But beyond these basics,” continued Lamont raising up on his haunches, “we have other thing we are entitled to. We are entitled to regular petting. We’re cats, and the human servants have a responsibility to pet us and brush us with some regularity.”

“Yes, yes,” chimed in Paw, “oh yes, we need brushing and petting. I may not crawl up on their laps as you two do on occasion, but I do love being brushed and petted. You’re right, we are entitled to being petted a groomed. Here, here, more, more.”

“Furthermore,” proclaimed Lamont now filled with righteous cat power, “we have the right to pursue cat happiness. We are entitled to play and have toys to play with as fits our nature and disposition. We are entitled to scratching areas, posts, rugs, ropes and the like. You can’t be a proper cat without scratching something.”

“I most heartily concur,” exclaimed Patch, “We are cats hear us meow. We are entitled to not only food but treats personally fed to us by our humans. We have to right to shed hair anywhere we like and expect that the humans will pick it up it they are so inclined. We are entitled to look out windows as much as we want at the world. We are entitled to pretend we are great fierce cats in search of prey. We are entitled to pounce upon a human when we feel so disposed. It is our right.”

“Now you get it,” encouraged Lamont. “We have many many entitlements just because we are cats. These entitlements are our proper due as domestic residents among the humans. Entitlements are our due.”

With that said, all the cats took cat naps and dreamed of more entitlements they had coming to them, just because they were cats. One such entitlement is obvious the right to sleep on humans whenever they wanted.

Oh my we're cute!