Super Mardi - la Rhetorique d'Obama

Just in time for primary elections all over the tristate area, Massachusetts and other points South and West I figured out what's wrong with Obama's general oratory. I've been reading an introductory textbook of Comparative Politics and it has helped me to focus my own political convictions and to formulate another reasoned attack on Obama's campaign platform. For the sake of this argument, I will stay clear of foreign policy- it's a can of worms I want to use as bait in a future diatribe...

Obama talks mostly about change. In terms of political attitudes, change is the banner of radicals (change by force) and liberals (change by gradual reform). I consider myself and the good guys to be liberals, so I should be in love with Obama. The problem is Obama mainly talks about changing the way politicians interact with each other and the general public. He is not really talking about actual on-the-ground change as in reducing economic inequality in America or amending our institutions in meaningful ways that will significantly affect people's lives. He might mention these, but they are not the backbone of his campaign. Sure, politicians seem slimier than ever these days and it would be great to have a more honest, transparent, and even bipartisan body politic in Washington, but all of that is just hot air (read: carbon emissions) unless it brings about actual improvements to our existing, failing institutions. As a liberal and socialist-leaning person I am looking for a candidate who will stand for such reforms.

After living in Britain and seeing a marked difference between their poor and inner-city populace compared with ours, I think one of the greatest problems in our country is that we have a large population of relatively poor, uneducated and unhealthy citizenry. It's sort of an outrage when you think about the general wealth of this nation. Socialist democracies in Europe and even our neighbor to the north have managed to keep their general populations smarter, healthier, and more economically equal without sacrificing much liberties if any in comparison (in fact, the current administration has managed to test the limits of our apathy by taking away some basic liberties such programs as wire-tapping and the suspension of habeas corpus). It is time to learn some lessons from our trans-Atlantic friends and change tack. We need socialist institutions such as national health services (trim the fat, literally), better school system across the country (pay teachers more, fire shitty educators), and - even though it hurts to say it - a more progressive tax system that takes from the rich and gives to the poor. Does Obama promise any of this? No.

In the one domestic policy issue that Clinton and Obama agreed to disagree on - health care - Clinton is the more liberal of the two. She wants mandatory coverage across the board (as a start). Obama is more conservative and simply hopes to reduce costs enough so that most people will elect coverage - laissez-faire health care. Is this is the voice of change? Or is it simply a facade of hope you want to hang your delusional portrait of a brighter tomorrow on? Clinton has been a fervent advocate of socializing our institutions to the modern standard a Western industrial superpower should be measured against. She doesn't necessarily want to be buddy-buddy with her colleagues and bring C-SPAN into every nook and cranny of Washington. She wants to make a positive difference in the lives of the general population of this country.

So Democrats and lucky Independents (living in states with open or modified closed primaries), exercise your vote wisely and seek true reform rather than empty words. Choose Clinton, and keep in mind that Obama will make a great running mate in the fall...

On a decidedly and completely different note, I just happened on this link while googling "clinton obama ticket" - it's a few quick stats on campaign financing. It appears Clinton has raised the most but has spent less than Obama. Evidence of fiscal responsibility? To be researched further in the future if needs be - hoping today is D-Day for Hills.