A recent article I published in our local paper delineating my disappointments with the Obama administration got many responses, most of which missed the mark. My point was not that Obama is failing, but that the system is failing Obama. Yes, he has been a disappointment to me in some ways, but to evaluate him, one needs only compare him to his predecessor.
The system supports action by leaders like Bush/Cheney, but obstructs action by Obama/Biden.
Anyone who believes in Abe Lincoln's America of the people, by the people, and for the people, should advocate for the return of power to the representatives of the people Congress - from the hands of corporate lobbyists and the executive branch. Only Congress was authorized to declare war, but they have handed that power to the executive. The executive has handed much of that power covertly to the CIA and, through "privatization" to corporations like Blackwater.
With power in the hands of the executive, it is easy to manipulate intelligence and enter into inappropriate wars, and even easier for those behind the scenes to manipulate a weak executive into doing such things. With power in the hands of Congress, collective debate and popular input has a much better chance of cooling tempers and tempering powerful ambitions.
At present, precious little legislation protects the people, while most protects the power and wealth of the top 1% via corporate rights. With power removed from corporate lobbyists who not only advocate for, but actually write legislation - Congress would once again be charged with representing the people as well as special interests.
Finally, military budgeters should be required to do social/cost benefit analysis of expenditures for weapons against expenditures for things like schools, health care and food distribution, the U.S. should bind itself to international law, and a cabinet level Department of Peace should be empowered to seek solutions to world problems.
If he were given his head, I believe Obama would lead us toward these ideas, but the system, structured to continue our economic dependence on war, weapons, and corporate domination, ties his hands. The last president who tried on his own to stop this process, was sent prematurely to his grave at Arlington.
The saddest part is that so many little people seem to
believe that someday their chance might come to be rich and powerful that they are
willing to kowtow to those who already are and give up any real chance of
relief for their own future and that of the world at large.
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