One Small Step For A Politician, One Giant Leap For Mediocrity
History has been made it's very exciting…. Now that that's out of the way… New boss, same as the old boss… From “hope and change” to “more of the same”…
Four years from now things will be the same or worse. The trajectory is pretty much set. Obama will have a mediocre approval rating, so will congress, we will still be at war in the middle east, millions of Americans will not have health-care, the country will still run on coal, oil and gas, unemployment will be between 6 and 10%, lobbyists will still rule Washington… there will be no changes of substance (at least none that originate in Washington DC).
Millions who just had the most exciting political moment in their lives will have their faith in the system torn down anew. Their dreams of telling the grand kids how they played a part in the coming of the new dawn in American history will turn to ash before their very eyes.
The 2010 election will re-balance congress a bit (that season should be starting any day now). That tighter congress combined with mild resistance from the left to Obama's centrist nature, the economy and TWOT will keep meaningful change from happening and the machine will continue to slowly consolidate power while maintaining the status quo. Drastic change is dangerous to both parties in that it could open the door for people with actual ideas and jeopardize political careers that span decades if not generations.
The problems run much deeper than the president; they're pervasive and systemic. Here's an example:
My ballot… all filled out (mostly blank)… (I wrote in Bob Barr, just because I feel the Libertarian party should be on the ballot in every state, not because I like him). Note the complete lack of actual contests, all races are either Republican vs. Democrat or an uncontested Republican or Democrat. How is this a choice? I don't even think I know a single person who's views are represented by the platform of either party. These people represent the political establishment, therefor the establishment always wins. The politicians always win, the political machine always wins.
Congratulations to our new president, I look forward to some more refreshing mediocrity.