POLITICS AND NATURE

Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which may hazard a diminution of power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold under the State establishments.

Alexander Hamilton as "Publius" in Federalist #1, 1787

And so it goes. Certain influential interests are always and have always been reticent to change. It is a powerful word in a democracy . . . change. We have the ability to fashion the future. Barack Obama reminds us of this truth and it is so compelling at this moment in time folks on all sides breathe in his message as if it were fresh air hitting them after struggling out of a long, dark, musty tunnel. He cites the possible and looks toward the sunny side of the future. People are dis-heartened by by the mean-ness hovering over the airwaves.

Accusations fly like arrows at the soul of the country to justify poor policies and division but Obama brings people together.

Once in a Generation

Barack is not only a historic anomaly because of the color of his skin. He is a different kind of politician, appealing to what Abraham Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature." He talks in lofty terms. Young people envision a bright future and learn of what is possible when they hear him speak. True leadership is inspirational and uplifting. He spoke after winning the so-called Potomac primaries (D.C., Virginia, and Maryland) in Madison, Wisconsin and it was easy to see the crowd was electrified, filled with young and old and the way he talks it increases national pride. He refuses to fall into the stale, old, tired views of many other people who run for public office. American citizens are thirsty for change, they hunger for a reduction of hostility, deeply longing to gaze into an inspiring and cheerful tomorrow.

It is rare to see a politician of such skill, so adept at raising our hopes and reminding us the greatest days for America are in the future. There is something akin to Ronald Reagan within him. I was only eleven when Reagan was first elected to the White House in 1980 but there was an overwhelming sense at that time that he would restore national pride and re-take the position of global prominence which we believe is our destiny. At that time, the country had lived through the divided sixties and the rebound that was the seventies when officials came to grips with corruption, fraud, and abuse at the highest levels. Eventually, I would come to disagree with Reagan on just about everything but it is impossible to deny his ability to move the nation. Clinton was similar. Both of them had the ability to laugh and to get people to laugh with them (or at them). They had vision combined with pragmatism. They got things done.

Obama could very well be such a public servant. Even the most vociferous voices arrayed against him praise his ability to reduce the hostility. I first heard Obama speak at the Democratic convention in 2004. I hadn't heard anyone quite so exhilerating in a long while. I knew, at that moment, he was the future of the Democratic Party and he would be a potent force guiding people along our search for a "more perfect government." I didn't think it would happen so soon but he has overcome so many obstacles in such a short period of time. We are seeing American politics at its best right now. We are living in history, stomping on the terra with responsibility, courage, and honesty.

Questions exist as to specific proposals, exact prescriptions, and particular policies Obama will enact. The reality of our political system is that all options head into the Congress and go through extensive negotiation and deliberation. What we need to get things done is someone in office who can work with all of the forces who are afraid to alter our business as usual modus operendi and this can be done if the citizenry demands accountability and responsibility from our elected officials. If they fail, we fire them.  

The future is clear and the encouraging prospect of an Obama presidency is a happy thought.