President Obama at the Crossroads
As America seeks to heal herself after eight years of the previous administration's divisive domestic and foreign policies, I believe President Obama is the right man at the right time in our nation's history. His extensive grassroots community experience grounds him with the realization that he must take his vision for America to the streets. He knows before Lady Liberty can pull herself up by her bootstraps, each and every American citizen must envision a common goal. Although Democracy demands open debate and compromise to successfully attenuate our many differences into a focused effort, there is no time for extended partisan sparring.Across the media, the Republicans are already echoing the trite sound byte, "We cannot spend and borrow our way to prosperity" in opposition to President Obama's economic stimulus plan. They propose an across the board tax cut, instead. Regardless whether either plan is enacted, our government is forced to continue borrowing from the privately-owned Federal Reserve Bank to make up the budget shortfall. The difference is merely semantics.
Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt successfully steered our nation through the Great Depression after four years of Republican President Herbert Hoover's failed economic fiscal policies. President Hoover's false sense of confidence gained by his previous experience as President Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of Commerce mirrored President Bush's steadfast clinging to the Republican's "Trickle Down" economic policy. However, thanks to President Roosevelt adeptly guiding massive government expenditure public works projects through Congress during his term's first year, our nation's unemployed and working poor were given hope and sustenance to provide for their families while creating the infrastructure responsible for bringing our nation to the modern world's leadership position.Our aging national highway and bridge system, inefficient federal, state, and city government buildings, outdated and overstressed electrical grid and utilities, overcrowded public schools, undermanned law enforcement agencies, the absence of meaningful drug and criminal rehabilitation programs, and a shameful lack of modernized public transportation systems, prove our nation's public services are in desperate need of new investment.
If the Republican "Trickle Down" theory worked, wouldn't it have at least, started showing some minimal signs of progress over the last eight years? Unfortunately, our public infrastructure has continued to decay. In fact, there has been scarce new investment in any public sectors except a few political pork barrel projects.As our newly-elected president begins to spend some of his political capital to lead our nation into a new era of prosperity, there is much to be done by her citizens. This sad current state of affairs was created by all of us over a lengthy period of time. It will require equally as long to correct it.
Future generations are reliant upon us to make the right decisions. Even more importantly, we must take action to bequeath a better world to our children and grandchildren. We were given more opportunity than our parents. Do we not share the same responsibility for our descendents?Local community efforts to clean up our towns, cities, and countryside are in dire need of volunteers. Before our current era of a throw-away society, folks could not afford to discard possessions alongside roadways and neighborhoods. This self-serving interest was motivation to adequately protect our environment from pollution. However, a throw-away modern lifestyle with a lack of respect for our ourselves, our neighborhoods, communities, and countrysides, combined with a bourgeoning population are burdening our life-sustaining natural world with increasingly more damage. In fact, our planet's ability to maintain a stable climate may have already passed the point of no return. Time is of the essence.
As our federal government diligently works to turn around its own wasteful, environmentally neglectful policies, every American across this great nation must take small steps in their personal lives to contribute towards this shared common vision. It does not require life-changing decisions to contribute. Simple changes in individual household shopping habits can make a large positive environmental impact. Choosing energy-efficient light bulbs, keeping our thermostats lower at night, combining trips in the car, increasing insulation in our homes, carpooling when practical, are all small steps each of us can take in the right direction. Be creative and find your own unique contributions.
There is no doubt, history will scrutinize President Obama's presidency under the magnifying glass to determine whether he invested or squandered the American citizens' mandate for change. Rest assured, no matter the most noblest of intentions, he cannot perfect the required change without our help. Will history judge you and I favorably? Or will we be the first generation in this great nation's history to leave our children with less opportunity for economic prosperity and personal happiness? For our children's sake, take action. Join grassroots organizations to BE the change. If none exist in your town, organize neighborhood efforts to clean up your community and instill a sense of pride in your children. Be a leader. Our children's future depends upon it.
There are many challenges ahead, but if each and everyone of us will become the change, the combined energy expended towards humanity's common good would be a brilliant star shining brightly around the world. America could once again garner the respect and admiration of our global neighbors. Instead of exporting bombs and missiles, we could export positive energy, green technologies, and goodwill. This is the silver lining left by years of greed, despair, and poverty clouding our nation's vision. I believe this is the vision that President Obama intuitively knows is within our grasp. Will you take the baby steps required to achieve this vision of a greater future and nation? History is rampant with failed civilizations. Are we going to cease existing as a beacon for the world to follow? We cannot sit back, do nothing and point fingers. It's up to each of us. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen, if we believe.
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