Patience And A Potluck For Obama
I'm trying to be excited, really I am. I've done everything right to set the mood - a cup of perfectly brewed coffee, a toasty fire roaring in the wood stove - the perfect compliments to a historical morning. I'm watching a landmark in history with the inauguration of our new president, Barack Obama, but I'm feeling still feeling cynical. We've placed the weight of the world on the shoulders of one man and the pessimist inside me is saying he just can't do it. I honestly don't think anyone can. It's going to take years to dig us out of the cesspool we've created and I'm afraid too many people have unreasonable expectations of a quick fix to a problem that took many years to create.
On a side note, and before you think I'm anti-Obama or anti-America, I do really like the guy and I want him to succeed. He's just gonna need to be a miracle worker to do it.
I know throughout his campaign he's preached change, change, change and a little more change, but has he truly looked at how 'effed up California currently is? Home foreclosures, the possibility of late tax return payments, state employees facing IOU's for paychecks, unemployment up, and the list goes on and on. I'm not even going to discuss the state of affairs with the rest of the US because we're all pretty much living in the same financial craphole. No one is safe in our current economy.
I think what puts the cherry on my proverbial presidential cake iced with poor man's buttercream frosting, is that we are now having a $150 million dollar inauguration gala for our new prez. Yep, $150 million. Oh, don't worry too much, he did raise about $42 million to help cover part of it, that just leaves the rest of us to gather $108 million. Pocket change, really. With the state of our economy, the way I figure it is that it's like we are going out to a prime rib dinner on a Spam budget. After we gorge ourselves on a meal we really can't afford, we then charge the tab on our already maxed out credit cards, while also paying for a couple of rounds at the bar for the 100 or so other patrons. It just doesn't make sense.
I'm a strong believer in celebrating this momentous occasion but couldn't we just sponsor a potluck? Heck, I'll bring enough potato salad to feed an army. If we split it up, it really shouldn't take too much effort. I'd bet we'd even have enough to buy a couple of kegs of Great White and a few dozen boxes of Franzia. I know if we all got liquored up together, the ideas about our current state of economy would be flowing and history would be made; wars would end and peace could be had. It's a fun thought, isn't it?
Ok, my rant is over. I have a feeling, after looking at the thousands of cheering people at the inaugural festivities, I may be alone in this cynicism. If I'm not, please feel free to join in on the biotching session. We all need to stick together in our pessimism.
Comments
I agree with you 100% my dear niece. He is going to need a miracle and a whole lot of bullet proof garb. Just when he gets semi comfortable Iam afraid someone will catch him off guard! For his and his families sake I hope they stay safe! As for California and the USA yes it is in the crapper. As for our personal lives Iam doing ok!
Posted by: Aunt Becky | January 20, 2009 12:12 PM
I think he will bring change merely from the fact that who he is (the son of a black immigrant) provides a goal that seems possible. Whether he will be the catylist for enough change to bail us out, depends on us. Will we pitch in?
I'm glad he pitched in to help with the cost and I thought you might be interested to note that this inauguration isn't that much different from 2005. See this article
here!
Posted by: kymk | January 20, 2009 01:27 PM
Kym, I had heard this info as well (as far as the cost goes). What I read was that they didn't figure in the cost of security on the Bush inauguration which bumped it up close to Obama's cost. Nevertheless, I think it's ridiculous for any responsible president and his crew to spend this much money when our economy is so terrible.
Posted by: Sandi | January 20, 2009 01:43 PM
I think we're all worried here. California is seriously messed up, we need someone to fix us!
Posted by: greedygrace | January 20, 2009 07:31 PM
Well its not too pretty here in Georgia either. I'm glad to be an American, but its going to take more than 4 years to fix whats been messed up. Just because he promises "change" doesn't mean anything. I think he has realized its going to take a lot more than just change to fix things.
Posted by: Trying4two99 | January 20, 2009 10:26 PM
I agree wholeheartedly. I was anti-Obama. I ranted and raved when he was elected but then I got over it. I support our president, no matter who he is. The problem I see though is that the majority of Americans have put him up on a pedestal and what goes up, must come down. Everyone has been so blinded by the idea of change that they forgot to even consider if that change was possible. And we also have to remember that he is "just" the president. He is not a miracle worker. He also does not make all the decisions. That is what the rest of the government is there for. As for the cost of the ball yesterday... a little hypocritical if you ask me. How do we plan on getting out of debt and saving this economy if we are blowing that kind of money on a party? Then again, everyone is still too blinded by the idea of change and his god-like status they have given him. If Obama thinks it's ok, then roll with it, right?
Posted by: Bri | January 21, 2009 07:17 AM
I agree with you. I left the T.V. off.
Posted by: Jennifer McKenzie | January 21, 2009 07:54 AM
Well, I feel surprisingly better now, knowing that I'm not alone on this one. I truly hope we are all wrong and I do plan on doing my part when possible. I just don't know what that is, yet. But I know it's not giving up my check or tax refund. Arnold, you can take my $ and - well, I think he knows.
Posted by: Sandi | January 21, 2009 08:50 AM
I completely agree with you all! No one person got us here and there isn't any way that one person -him or anyone else for that matter- can fix all of the problems that this Country has gotten itself into. I also can't beleive that the celebration cost that much - who cares who much it's cost in the past this is the here and now and well we shouldn't be spending money that we don't have. The custom cadillac limo could have gone - why can't he use the limo Bush used? I was hoping that he would show us all from the first day that he was serious but I'm just not seeing it. He's been held up so high that I almost expect him to walk on water any day! I really hope I'm wrong but my gut doesn't think so.
Posted by: Tiffany | January 22, 2009 10:53 AM