Some of you may have thought I’d taken a sabbatical from writing on
anything except cats, which I have not written about much lately either. But it
is summer, and the golf course calls, I’m doing a bit of preaching, and perhaps
I’ve just grown a bit bored with the political debate and want to leave it all
to Robert Reich who does it better and maintains his enthusiasm better than I.
But I’m left with an itch to do this bit.
Over and over in the news we hear about Obama’s presidential approval
rating being terrible; the worst in history, awful, stinky-poo (for Palin type
readers.)
The Rasmussen Reports tracking poll shows only 47% approve of his
performance and 52% disapprove. Wait, that doesn’t seem like a presidential
Armageddon. The Gallup Poll has his approval rating at 43% with 51%
disapproving as of July 14, 2014. Reuter/Ipsos has him with 37% approval and 56
disapproval. Pew Research has him with 44% approval and 49% disapproval.
Quinnipiac puts him 40% approval and 49% disapproval. Where are these really
bad reports coming from.
Ah, I think I have it, these are the reports that compare him to
other presidents since WWII. That way the Quinnipiac University reports 33% of
voters think he is the worst president since 1945. George W. Bush is 2nd
worst at 28%; Nixon is in 3rd place at 13%, and Carter at 8%.
And then we rate the best presidents with Ronald Reagan rated best
since WWII. What?
I find these numbers disturbing on many levels. Ronald Reagan the
best since WWII? Don’t folk have a clue that because of his policies our
economy has gone completely to the dogs with “Trickle Down” economics, which
has crushed the middle class and concentrated the wealth of the nation among
the select few? The guy had a nice smile, made silly but pleasant B movies, but
was sophomoric at best in terms of economics and politics. Oh well, his Bonzo
movies with the chimpanzee were entertaining and perhaps reflective of his
presidency.
That was the president that told the
nation he would reduce the debt, increase spending (on the military) and
balance the budget. It was impossible and the record shows it; he increased it
by 13.2% only to be out done by George W. Bush at 42.7% - Wow!
Personally, in terms of popularity, I don't think President Obama had stand a chance
of being popular from day one for a lot of reasons. Here are some of them.
First, he is a black man, which makes his election amazing; but
bigotry remains and racial slurs about Obama occur with great regularity in
this country.
Second, he inherited a total mess from G.W. Bush and his predecessors. A war with
tremendous costs based on deception. Corporate and big wealth powers that developed
through deregulation since Reagan, which led to the bailouts he also inherited.
The economic problems made him like the little Dutch boy plugging fingers into
the dike until he ran out of fingers.
Third, a supreme court that seems to have lost touch with the
constitution and the needs of the country.
Fourth, a congress, especially the House, dominated by folk who
don’t even believe in government; so what are they doing there. These
extremists have swung the Republican Party so far to the right it is no longer
recognizable by Eisenhower Republicans. We have had deadlock in congress
before, but the congress during Obama’s administration is likely to down in
history as the most doing nothing obstructionist congress ever. They and we suffer
from election laws that make it necessary for members of congress to raise
$17,00 a day just to make a descent run for office; no wonder the have become
dependent upon the big bucks people.
There are more reasons for Obama’s unpopularity, but enough for
now.
I believe Obama is a good guy, who is a man of vision and
understand the role of government well ~ meaning to serve the common good. He
speaks with eloquence but seems unable to move the country or especially
congress to do the right thing.
I have finally finished reading Theodore Roosevelt’s autobiography;
a feat not for the faint hearted. He was a remarkable man who faced many of the
problems we face today. I also thought of his cousin, Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, who also faced similar problems. Theodore was a Republican but a
progressive one who was willing and able to confront the non-progressive
elements of his party and was able to provide incredible leadership for this
country. He established countless national parks, was a forerunner in
environmental issues, he fought a corrupt political system successfully and
used the presidency as a bully pulpit to bring both congress and the country on
board with programs that worked for the common good. But he had people he could
and did work with even when they disagreed with him; they did the right thing.
The president and congress knew the art of debate and compromise.
Much the same can be said of Franklin Roosevelt. The issues he
faced were great and called for bold and progressive solutions. He worked with
a congress that also were not pushovers and always agreed with him. But with
his leadership they did things that worked for the common good. Like his
cousin, the broke up monopolies, supported trade unions that developed a strong
middle class and got people working and gave them dignity.
On the other hand Obama, I believe has faced the most intractable
congress in history. There enough members who sole interest is in defeating him
and show a total lack of the common good. They ignore or do not understand the
history of our country to see when things worked and when they didn’t or they
just don’t care. They have created an oligarchy where the rich run the country.
I understand the anger of the right and its frustration with the government, but
I do not understand their failure to right the wrongs that exist and the
blockage of programs that promote the common good. Plus their inability to compromise.
As great as the Roosevelt’s were I doubt it they would be able to
do what they did in today’s political climate. And because of that we all pay
the price. Worse, we the people, are quick to blame but slow to solve problems.
We apparently don’t read history and learn lessons from it that would help us
today. We have become short sighted and wrapped up in our vested interests
failing to see the overall picture of the country and the need to work for the
common good.
What I am trying to get across here, is that we are blaming the wrong person(s) for the lack of productivity of the Obama presidency. Obama may no be perfect, who is, but the real problem in dealing with the issues of the day are not in the Executive branch of the government but with the Judicial and Congressional branches. The other part of the blame goes to ourselves for not being better informed and more active in the political arena. We elect these people, we should search out more qualified, less influenced by outside sources individuals and encourage them to run for office and help them do so. We need a strong grass roots progressive populist movement. There are such groups, but not nearly enough if we are to reclaim our democracy.
