Now the hard work begins
Nov. 5th, 2008 08:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
altivoI admit I'm pleased but surprised at the results of yesterday's election. I've been confident of an Obama win for a while now, but I expected it to be close, perhaps even close enough for the kind of judicial shenanigans we saw eight years ago. I'm glad we won't have to go through that obscenity again, certainly.
Unlike Dubya in either 2000 or 2004, Obama really seems to have an electoral mandate. Voters are supporting changes, possibly even some that will be painful. Most seemed not to be fearful of "socialism" or "redistribution of wealth". Rather, they were angry about the economy, and the results of 30 years of laissez faire capitalism, unfettered by regulation, anti-trust controls, or caps on what amounts to simple greed (financial gains achieved at the expense of those less fortunate than oneself and who are unable to do anything about it.) Before the wealthy start shrieking about having their taxes increased, which is probably inevitable, let me remind them that they've had nearly three decades of continued tax cutting to feather their golden nests, ever since Reaganomics first held sway and the notion that tax cuts for the rich would fuel the economy took hold. We've already HAD "redistribution of wealth." It has been redistributed in FAVOR of those already wealthy, at the expense of those who are not. The gulf between poor and rich has widened significantly. The number of people in the middle has declined significantly. The percentage of the population without health care protections, without retirement protection, and who do not own homes has been increasing. Meanwhile, the wealthiest percentage of the US population have increased somewhat in number, but hugely in terms of the amount of capital and real property they control. A revolt was inevitable, and it has come. Live with it.
This election seems likely to represent a watershed, perhaps even as large and significant as the one that put Franklin Roosevelt in the Presidency back in 1932. The repercussions of the housing collapse and subsequent restructuring, the loss of consumer confidence, the possibility of actual deflation rather than inflation, all are going to continue for months, quite probably years. The new administration and new congress will have to deal with these issues, as well as addressing the horrendous damage done to the US image abroad by the arrogance of the Bush government. Energy is still a major problem that requires immediate attention, too. At least Mr. Obama is conscious of the fact that wrecking the environment in search of more oil is not the answer. Increased efforts for renewable, green energy sources and energy-saving restructuring of the economy and lifestyles are essential, and we will have to put our collective funding behind them in order to accelerate gains in those areas.
There is, of course, a worm in the cherry pie. The continued and stubborn support for anti-gay amendments and legislation that often amounts to codification of simple intolerance and hatred was appalling. California, Arkansas, Florida, Arizona! I'm talking to you folks now. There is absolutely nothing that recognition of gay marriage or civil unions, or the adoption of children by gay couples or individuals, can do to "threaten" the stability of society, or "denigrate" your (possibly second or third, eh Mr. McCain?) marriage. Fortunately, younger voters opposed these hate initiatives. Even if they have to wait for a generation to die off, they will eventually put those changes in place. It's a shame that you are so narrow minded and bigoted that you couldn't let change take its course now. Canada survived it, and lightning bolts did not come down from heaven to purge Ottawa or turn anyone into pillars of salt. Scandinavia and the UK managed it without any terrible "destruction of the family" or decline in morality. Even a country as notably resistant to change as South Africa has been able to take same sex marriage in stride. What is the matter with the US?
Fortunately, just like civil rights for blacks, and before that, voting rights for women, I expect the tide will turn on this issue as well. It's inevitable, and the foot dragging of older generations will end one way or another. Myself, I'd rather see a new world while I'm alive than have it improve only because I've finally croaked. But I guess that's your choice, isn't it? Too bad.
Unlike Dubya in either 2000 or 2004, Obama really seems to have an electoral mandate. Voters are supporting changes, possibly even some that will be painful. Most seemed not to be fearful of "socialism" or "redistribution of wealth". Rather, they were angry about the economy, and the results of 30 years of laissez faire capitalism, unfettered by regulation, anti-trust controls, or caps on what amounts to simple greed (financial gains achieved at the expense of those less fortunate than oneself and who are unable to do anything about it.) Before the wealthy start shrieking about having their taxes increased, which is probably inevitable, let me remind them that they've had nearly three decades of continued tax cutting to feather their golden nests, ever since Reaganomics first held sway and the notion that tax cuts for the rich would fuel the economy took hold. We've already HAD "redistribution of wealth." It has been redistributed in FAVOR of those already wealthy, at the expense of those who are not. The gulf between poor and rich has widened significantly. The number of people in the middle has declined significantly. The percentage of the population without health care protections, without retirement protection, and who do not own homes has been increasing. Meanwhile, the wealthiest percentage of the US population have increased somewhat in number, but hugely in terms of the amount of capital and real property they control. A revolt was inevitable, and it has come. Live with it.
This election seems likely to represent a watershed, perhaps even as large and significant as the one that put Franklin Roosevelt in the Presidency back in 1932. The repercussions of the housing collapse and subsequent restructuring, the loss of consumer confidence, the possibility of actual deflation rather than inflation, all are going to continue for months, quite probably years. The new administration and new congress will have to deal with these issues, as well as addressing the horrendous damage done to the US image abroad by the arrogance of the Bush government. Energy is still a major problem that requires immediate attention, too. At least Mr. Obama is conscious of the fact that wrecking the environment in search of more oil is not the answer. Increased efforts for renewable, green energy sources and energy-saving restructuring of the economy and lifestyles are essential, and we will have to put our collective funding behind them in order to accelerate gains in those areas.
There is, of course, a worm in the cherry pie. The continued and stubborn support for anti-gay amendments and legislation that often amounts to codification of simple intolerance and hatred was appalling. California, Arkansas, Florida, Arizona! I'm talking to you folks now. There is absolutely nothing that recognition of gay marriage or civil unions, or the adoption of children by gay couples or individuals, can do to "threaten" the stability of society, or "denigrate" your (possibly second or third, eh Mr. McCain?) marriage. Fortunately, younger voters opposed these hate initiatives. Even if they have to wait for a generation to die off, they will eventually put those changes in place. It's a shame that you are so narrow minded and bigoted that you couldn't let change take its course now. Canada survived it, and lightning bolts did not come down from heaven to purge Ottawa or turn anyone into pillars of salt. Scandinavia and the UK managed it without any terrible "destruction of the family" or decline in morality. Even a country as notably resistant to change as South Africa has been able to take same sex marriage in stride. What is the matter with the US?
Fortunately, just like civil rights for blacks, and before that, voting rights for women, I expect the tide will turn on this issue as well. It's inevitable, and the foot dragging of older generations will end one way or another. Myself, I'd rather see a new world while I'm alive than have it improve only because I've finally croaked. But I guess that's your choice, isn't it? Too bad.
