The promisorial proclamation
“…I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. This was the moment — this was the time — when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves and our highest ideals.” — Barack Obama
Let’s take each promise in the order in which it was given.
“…this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick…”
Was there no care for the sick before the age of Obama? Perhaps that’s why Michelle felt no pride in America before her husband was nominated to run for the presidency. We know Obama was referring to what has come to be known as Obamacare with its promised expansion of coverage to all, so let’s be generous and allow that the jury is still out on this one. Although the program is a setup for disaster, the disaster hasn’t occurred yet because many of the law’s provisions have not yet become effective. What we do know is the law was so unpopular that it required a good deal of unethical practices to get it rammed through both houses were controlled by the President’s own Democratic Party.
Medical care has been available to everyone for many years. Emergency rooms accept the indigent for anything from kids with sore throats to someone with serious injuries. What’s missing is insurance. It is true that broader and more personal care is provided through insurance coverage. Privately purchased insurance is a thing of the past. Today it comes with employment which leads us to promise number two
“…this was the moment when we began to provide …good jobs to the jobless”
This one hardly needs comment. Since Obama made the promise of “good jobs” the jobless rate has grown from less than 6% to nearly 10% and remained over 8%, where it still is, for a longer period than at any time since the Great Depression. The real unemployment rate is over 11% when you count the jobless who have given up even on seeking work.
“…this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow…”
Only God and Obama could ever make a promise like that and God knows there is no reason to promise it. In fact, the highest ocean tide ever recorded was on the night of October 4–5, 1869 at the head of the Minas Basin in the Bay of Fundy. It was a promise to do the unnecessary and the impossible.
“…this was the moment when …our planet began to heal…”
I suppose he was referring to environmental friendly programs like the subsidizing of Solyndra to postpone its bankruptcy and the building of the Chevrolet Volt in the hope that someone might buy one. As far as healing is concerned, none has been observed as yet, particularly not in politics.
“…when we ended a war …”
The troops were not drawn out of Iraq in the time promised. And we are still fighting the war in Afghanistan. The causalities are just not being reported as loudly since Obama took office.
“…this was the moment when we …secured our nation and restored our image”
Judgment on this one falls in the realm of opinion, but does anyone really hold the opinion that our image in the world is better than it was 4 years ago?
“this was the time — when we came together to remake this great nation…”
In that statement there lays a germ of truth. We just hope the disease is reversible. What came together was not the nation as a whole, but the internal workings within each of two factions into which the country became more deeply divided under this president.
We need some fixin’ that’s for sure, but we don’t need Obama to “remake this great nation” into something else.
RANDOM THOTS 