Reflections on the Generation Obama
It's a little over a year since Obama won the presidential election, 2008: The truth is that when he began his presidency. The day after his victory, he called his transition team and a morning of reflection and planning. From November 4 to his inauguration January 20, played an unprecedented role in the affairs of the nation and carefully prepared the ground of his presidency. But how can we evaluate the first year and the movement that brought him to power? An exhaustive answer to this question is not possible, but here are some observations on four key points during my stay here it might be interesting for some.
Medical Services
Obama first great movement of national health care era. Unfortunately, the draft bill passed the House of Representatives 10 days ago is a pale reflection of what Obama has promised (or seemed to promise), far from other first world countries (And even some third world countries) and much less than the needs of the American public. It is more like a reform of insurance sector real opportunity to provide universal sustainable and / or health care accessible to everyone. The industry accounts for health care for 16% of GDP In general, the highest in the first world and yet there are currently 50 million uninsured Americans, and many whose benefits do not allow treatment. As this recession deepens number increases.
At the heart of the bill creates a market where consumers are covered Federal could shop around for the best insurance plan. This includes state subsidies to private plans for some consumers and some more controversial, an insurance plan administered by the State.
Good news: The bill extends the coverage an estimated 34million people, requires more employers to offer decent health care benefits, reduce the cost Health insurance usually develops Medicaid coverage, provides grants to small businesses and individuals, increases in high-tax revenues (more than $ 1 million) and prevents insurance companies deny coverage and / or charging higher premiums medical conditions pre-existing.
The news is not so good: In a "compromise" draft up any grants or does not perform an abortion except in cases of incest, rape or when the mother's life is in danger. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for a plan involving government subsidies, tax credits or Medicaid or Medicare (State Insurance Programs for the poor, the elderly and disabled). They are, however, able to purchase private insurance through the market square at the full price that few can pay for emergency care access to unnecessarily high costs for the state. There will be careful of "public health" in the sense that Canada, most of Europe and even South Africa offers, ie without the services of public health care. Rather, subsidized by the state run programs or private insurance pay attendance rates care such as rates of private insurance companies (and not significantly reduced as some had hoped). The privatization of health care continues. Most of dams, however, is that most of the funds to come into force in 2013 despite the growing number of uninsured. And while this bill will reform probably modest does not make it through the most conservative of the Senate in its current form. The highest court is extremely durable (and even the silent acceptance?) In the industry's health care plan.
Long War
Obama seems that positive measures on the phased withdrawal from Iraq despite no goals (oil Foreign security, stabilize a client regime and "fighting terrorism") have been achieved. Some enthusiasm can be taken by the progressive (but excruciatingly slow), try to close the Guantánamo Bay (which Obama admitted that he met the promised time) and the decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-accused (who was involved in the attacks of September 11) before a civil court in New York. Obama also reach the Muslim world and diplomacy with Iran departure from previous policy and is conspicuous by its absence.
However, Afghanistan remains a weight around the neck of Obama and a swamp, it seems to sink into. The core of the problem is the U.S. strategy long-term military. Government policy from the idea of the "long war", a year or 50 100 insurgency against of the cold war against Al Qaeda and company along the arc "crisis" mainly oil-rich Muslim countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Horn of Africa, the Philippines and beyond, with several "hot wars", as we saw on the road.
The term "long war "was coined by General John Abizaid in 1990 and enacted by the counter-insurgency expert at the Pentagon and think tanks led by the Center for In the New American security. His most ardent defender, who popularized the idea in 2005, was Dr. David Kilcullen, senior military adviser and current aid General Stanley McChrystal, and the case is made for him in his recent book The guerrillas accidental. Despite the failure of the tactics of the insurgency-cons global strategy has achieved a position dominant in the military.
This is the quagmire that Obama faces, Afghanistan (and their conflict over the Pakistan, for example) is not a fight isolation can only "win." Rather, it is a battle in a wide flat, with a dubious gain military and political and legal inconsistencies huge clear financial implications that undermine national policies.
Environment
positive talk abound. Obama's address to the United Nations September 22 was the first thing that comes of a progressive U.S. president on the environment in a long time. It has been recognized since the failure of America and the severity of the threat and said he was determined to act for the good of future generations. A series of public meetings, officials and other role players were held. Despite being watered by the proposed stimulus plan, "one billion of 24.4 million in real money Energy Efficiency, 25.3 billion U.S. dollars for renewable energy and $ 23 billion for transportation improvements … For Clinton and Obama meeting Councillor John Podesta, the container means 150 billion dollars in investments in clean energy year for 10 years, creating 1.7 million net new jobs "6. Obama with foreign leaders have also failed to produce positive statements about need to combat domestic gas emissions.
However, very little of the American plan has been implemented to date, although in fairness these programs time. More important however is that the eloquent speech does not include specific targets, this is true for the direction Obama and the United Nations (for example) after its declaration of the meeting, Chinese President Hu Jintao. Even more disappointing is climate change activists that the next conference in Copenhagen seems to be dead in the water with a non-binding political agreement on the likely outcome that optimism is a springboard for a binding agreement with specific targets and Realistically, a face-saving move.
Why throw at the feet of Obama? It would not just do it completely, but we must recognize that progress on this front is not possible without U.S. leadership and sometimes twist the arms of other countries, a clear commitment to specific goals and constraints of their economy Real domestic.
Economy
Those who expected a radical change in economic policy with the consent of Mr. Obama in the White House have been great disappointment. The expectation was, of course, unrealistic. Obama's economic policies do not vary much from those who came before him, whether Democrat or Republican. To choose three examples …
The ransom money: astronomical parts to banks and other financial institutions and the words (or lack thereof) that this money was given both in the bailout plan the Bush administration (which tacitly endorsed the Obama team) and the recovery of Obama indicate any change in force neoliberal economic policies. Despite speaking very little has been done to regulate the financial sector following the crisis of 2008. Obama's enthusiasm for the "recovery jobless stock market (ie, investors are even if workers are losing jobs benefit) is another indication of their integration in the market economy approach (the system is very good, just fix the intervention and control). In its favor must acknowledge the broader area of public spending in areas important in efforts to create jobs. Again, in On the back is bound to stimulate consumer spending (such as banks are encouraged to start lending) that was part of the first problem instead.
Speech of Foreign Trade: Obama on trade is perhaps the most revealing. Whether your speech in Ghana, its talks at the APEC or his press conference with Chinese President, the message is clear: free trade, competition and transnational corporations are the key to prosperity International. Contentious issues such as agricultural subsidies are not even near the table. Of course there are nuances, talk of regulation and policy reform positively, but it remains the policy base.
Directors and appointed: Perhaps the most telling is that Obama surrounds. several economic advisers and appointments pre-and post-election are a mix of economists was for Clinton (the era of international law, deregulation of the market) was Bush officials, economists, academics, prominent businessmen and a few reformers. Members of the advisory board of economic transition: the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., TIAA-CREF and Xerox (Warren Buffett Roger Ferguson and Anne Mulcahy, respectively), Chairman of the Board of Directors of Time Warner (Richard Parsons), and Chairman and Central Executive Committee of Citigroup (Robert Rubin) – Citigroup received nearly $ 8 45billion bailout money.
Timothy Geithner, Treasury secretary, has made a transition with the IMF and Lawrence Summers, Chief Economic Council (NEC), a former senior World Bank official, was forced to resign the presidency of Harvard University in 2006 after suggesting that Women are not the innate ability of men to excel in math and science9. There has been saying that nothing can be done in the two huge premiums AIG Executive (post rescue) and increase unemployment10.
What to learn?
Readers of this post may be surprised to know that I am an Obama fan. He is charismatic, cool, eloquent, intelligent, progressive, has good values, a knowledge of the dynamics of discrimination (class, race, gender and sexual orientation) is favorable to union activity, offers a political approach to international integration and gave priority to the right questions of health care, employment, education and the environment. And he is African American. This is the best choice to enter the American political system. But the heart is: "In the U.S. system, and not just the American system, but a global neoliberal capitalist economic order. Obama hands (and mind?) Are linked in many ways.
It all comes down the economy, money, power and profits at the end. It is no secret that the influence of various pressure groups and the exercise of extraordinary large Member of Congress and the executive. Fundraising amounted to lobbying 3.3billion in 2008 with the American Chamber of Commerce (representing large enterprises) showed older, with approximately U.S. $ 527million and different health insurers and pharmaceutical companies of the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th with a combined total of $ 712million whopping. As expected, the military-industrial complex is represented by Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Boeing Co in the top 20 spenders. He also made the top 20 are giants General Electric Energy (3rd), ExxonMobil and Edison Electric Institute. mass media companies (AT & T and Verizon Communications Inc.) financial giants (Freddie Mac and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) and General Motors in the top 20 list11.
We must remember the main driving force of the economy market is profit, and everything is permitted – the exploitation, environmental degradation, war, etc – in pursuit of it. Not only this form of our relations economic, but also our social relations and the very fabric of our society.
Members of Congress have their own programs. A report Recent Center for Responsive Politics is superimposed on a total of 237 millionaires in Congress. And they are all Republicans are not the Democrats that four of the top 5, and the first 2 are of the liberal state of California. To make matters worse the 10 industries invested by Congress men and women are: real estate, entertainment (read: media) values, investment and banking, manufacturing, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals / health products12.
Playing a supporting role but important are ideological groups such as the Christian conservative right and anti-libertarian "big government" that manage to lead the debate for the distortion and damage. Distortion reform program rests health as "signs of death" is a great place and then against the mobilization of health care for ordinary people who could benefit more, it was scary to see. In addition, there is a racial subtext that is not dangerous so subtle in all these anti-Obama political initiatives, the state has fallen into the hands of enemy. Anyone willing to recognize the structural racism or the social meaning of race, as former President Carter has done recently, in politics or policy is immediately a racist in America the great "color blind" nation.
This is the stage where the president has to play.
What should I do?
First, we should not blame the president. It's useless. For now, we have someone to work with at least some change. More what they did (some would say naively) believe that Obama is eloquent speech, Obama, we've seen before the election, is the "real" Obama. Obama are interested in real change. In his recent book on the campaign of Obama (The Audacity of winning: The Inside Story of Barack Obama victory and historical experience) David Plouffe said all aspects of unorthodox campaign was based on the idea that "the country needs a profound change, fundamental, was not thinking to Washington long term … special interests and lobbyists had too much power, and the American people were once again the confidence and participate in their democracy. "14 As said the decision itself to the campaign headquarters in Chicago, Washington is not opposed to the decadence and corruption of American politics today. The movement base was not a political ploy by a power seeking selfish, but the emergence of the biological response to natural voice expression. It is this voice that was drowned in rotten swamps of Washington. And now is the position of the 000 300 odd volunteers and millions of supporters and voters to speak with that voice.
When you meet these people (especially youth) in the street, or in universities today, and ask them: Are you in favor of the war in Afghanistan? Much more, not responding. However, the man could have focused more troops. When asked if they want health response to free or affordable public many other. However, what their government is up to them.
There is a growing sense of disillusionment among this generation – the Obama generation. But the success of Generation Obama – and even Obama himself – is determined not to put Obama in power (and hopefully for two terms), will measure the success of the transformation this group of grassroots activists in the next wave of political activists. Part of the magic is that, for the first time, ordinary people felt unseasoned, they thought could make a change, and they did. Obama as an African-American (and with the support of African-Americans) is an added significance here, even the most stressed poor can be powerful, yes, some glass ceilings can be broken and crossed the thresholds defined conservative. That spirit must be harnessed and exploited in the next years if we want social change in any way. It is very likely to come in a fragmented way. Different groups on specific topics are: health, war, education, etc. We have seen this power is already expressed in the protests in California, the cost and scope of university education. It is difficult (but possible) to imagine the scope of collective action two years ago. The most likely take some years to get out en masse to a band once again disappointed among individuals. Naturally there will be fewer people, but a critical mass is possible.
Critics of a movement that should arise is based economy. Despite all the talk Wall Street but not an isolated event on Wall Street, not powerful viable social movement fighting against the economic system. This partly reflects the absence of a perspective coherent theoretical. Needed in two parts. One is direct: direct knowledge of the economic system in which we live and experimentation and reflection on viable alternatives. The other is integration: we must learn to see problems in the context of a coherent whole, that the operation economic decline, environmental and the war does not come from the existence of "bad people" but are cancers endemic to the system of capitalism, with its pursuit of profit at any cost.
We have seen this integration began to emerge in the late 1990s and early 2000s embodied by what happened in Seattle, but the Sept. 11 attacks and subsequent war, fear and restrictions on civil liberties and undermines the movement fragmented. Equally important is the idea that the system not only contributes to "external" economic problems but has created a set of social relations that moves human solidarity, based on competition and greed. Only when the movements social workers can address its causes, within the economic paradigm, we can move towards a real change that many in the world with passion requested in 2008.
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