Obama's Political Observation

Upon my personal request, a friend of mine bought for me Barak Obama’s book called “Audacia da Esperanca” (Portuguese title translated “Audacity of Hope”) where the author expounds his socialist philosophy and ideas. The book cost about 20 dollars and is easy and interesting reading.  The author has a very flamboyant style and his insights compose themselves in different angles and prisms. He speaks openly and frankly and has a touch of humor to his narratives. In one of the chapters, he gives a brief summary of the political history of the USA from 1950 to the present times. He notes that in the first decades, politicians tended to be united in friendship despite the differences coming from their party positions and ideas. Obama says that the cause of this unity was the fact that all of these men had gone through the Second World War and it was this common experience that kept them friends despite their diverse political opinions. This unity amongst Republicans and Democrats made it possible for them to all work together for the betterment and security of the USA even if they did not always share the same social vision.

Obama laments the fact that today politics is something completely disunited, sectarian and deeply divided. It is this division amongst the diverse leaders that makes it so difficult for America to be guided along a secure path by its leaders. With confusion amongst the heads of government, the sheep too are scattered and lost in fear. Who does Obama seem to blame for all of this? In my understanding from reading his book, he seems to point the finger at Ronald Reagan. According to Obama, Ronald Reagan changed the nature of American politics. Reagan went beyond politics and turned his Republican party into a Messianic group with a moral imperative for America. The Republicans were now a political class of a subtle religious and moral nature that defended the country, family and good old traditional American values. If this was so, then who were the Democrats? They were forced into the position of being those who would therefore defend the nature of freedom under subtle liberal ideas and principles. These two groups now polarized themselves and became fanatical in their ideas and positions. Unity amongst them at this point, became something hopeless and farfetched. The Republicans were now the predestined “good guys” and the Democrats were the reprobates or “bad guys”.

 If Obama does not have that rock bottom insight of the importance and fundamental foundation of one’s right to life as the cornerstone of all human rights and social projects, then his audacity of hope, will be in truth,   a copout to illusion.

Anthony Mellace