This Just In: FDR and Lincoln to Make Appearances at the Inauguration

Let me preface this by saying that I truly hope that Obama is a successful president in that he restores the confidence of the American people in America itself... as a strong, just, constitutionally democratic nation. As a nation of hope, determination, prosperity, and hard work. As a nation that is worth being proud of... not one that we feel like burying in the sand and pretending to not see the giant mound it creates. I don't think this will necessarily be achieved through an FDR-esque "stimulus" package including a massive public works program. I'm all about having safe and reliable public works, but how about we work on making our current ones more efficient than simply throwing more money at it? That would imply that money, time, and other resources actually have value though, which obviously can't be the case... Oh wait, people were panicking because they were losing those things... right. As much as I philosophically understand that money only has the value that we input upon it, we happen to put a great amount upon it, therefore making it valuable and important to our personal lives and society as a whole.

As much as the proposed "stimulus" package is worthy of further analysis, I'm actually more interested in Obama's Cabinet and staff picks. Now, I am more than capable of doing real research with citations and all, but it takes time and I don't feel like going back and sourcing my observations at the moment. Those observations have caused me to draw certain conclusions (coupled with previous Obama speeches and behavior during the campaign... think Democratic Convention Stage if you need any clarification.) I've noticed that he has a certain affinity for a former president from Illinois - Abraham Lincoln. I spent much time studying Lincoln previously in my life and have great respect and admiration for him. However, it deeply bothers me that Obama seems to draw so many similarities between himself and Lincoln. I wish I had the quote in front of me... but a famous reporter or columnist said something along the lines of "Come on. You have to earn that comparison" following the Convention this summer. I completely agree.

I have several reasons why I think this is the case... but there was uproar a few weeks ago when he was announcing all the "fiscal" cabinet members... Secretary of Commerce, Labor, Treasury, etc. These people truly affect the way our money flows in the world and there's not much we as mere citizens can do to thwart their policies if we don't like them. What I found most interesting is the appointment of the Mayor of Dallas (I forget his name) who is regarded as a "fiscally conservative democrat" and how that was going to cause dissension among the other appointees. Optimists on both sides view this (and the retaining of Secretary of Defense Gates) and Obama's true commitment to reaching across the aisle and embracing everyone. I view it as a clever scheme that ultimately grants Obama more power. Last time I checked, while Cabinet members have much power, the President can pretty much do what he wants regardless of what the Cabinet has to say about it. And, if you get certain prominent Cabinet members disagreeing with each other, it opens up the way for Obama to unilaterally make the decision so that the dissension can end. Wonderful. More executive power - just what this country needs!

Someone (in the Journal I think) broke down how much money each person deciding where TARP funds are going is in charge of...at a minimum $2 billion of the collective tax payer dollars. He correctly stated that this is obscene for any one person to handle... especially under the pretense that they can better discern how to spend that money that the individuals it was taken from to begin with. I'm sure Obama will prove that theory wrong though, right? I mean, if you're channeling the spirits of FDR and Lincoln, what could go wrong? (Since they clearly weren't involved in 2 of the worst wars in American history.) Both did a great job of proving that they could do what they thought necessary without abiding by the constraints of the Constitution, so again, I guess all my misgivings are completely unjustified.

I started writing this entry last week and didn't have time to finish it, but since I was having this discussion with my husband (the ramifications of which are this entry) The Caucus blog in the New York Times has run with the Obama/Lincoln references. These range from reporting on the Obama family visit to the Lincoln Memorial to the list of all the performances and speeches that will be made at the Memorial on Inauguration Day. Obama also seems dead-set on pissing off everyone concerned with gay marriage on either side... first he asks Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Inauguration, but the first openly gay priest of the Episcopal church will be giving the one at the festivities at the Lincoln Memorial the day or 2 before. Or maybe this again illustrates where Obama's thinking lies. Personally, I think it's great to have the Episcopal priest and Rick Warren should be driven into a cave where he can't adversely affect any more people's ideologies, but that's just me and that has nothing to do with Inauguration politics. Also of note, Obama will be eating an inauguration lunch based on Lincoln's favorite foods. I'll refrain from comment on how ridiculous that is.

All of this is to simply say that I do hope for the best, but remain skeptical. And I still really, really like the Constitution, so I hope no one - presidential or otherwise - decides that we no longer need to practically uphold its edicts.

Voting is Not Your Civic Duty. It's a Right.

It's interesting how opinions change over time. For example, I could not wait until I was 18 and could vote. I bemoaned Bush's first term election because I had to sit idly by (being only 16 years old) and watch instead of voting for Al Gore. Now, I can't even think of Al Gore without busting out laughing (I mean really, have you seen the ManBearPig episode of South Park?)

So, things change. I exchanged my liberal stripes for "bi-partisan" ones in the 2004 election (meaning that I voted a split ticket, but didn't bother to mention where the split was.) I was still incredibly excited to vote though and drove 2 hours out of my way to do so - just so I could have the experience of going to the actual poll to vote for the presidency and senate.

However, in these last 4 years I've become more than disillusioned with anything political... I think the process is corrupt, that we've deviated so far from founding principles that an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens have not even read the Bill of Rights let alone the entire Constitution, and that our national ideology is so skewed that it cannot begin to solve even the most pressing issues because people are unwilling to take responsibility and ascertain logical outcomes of their own behavior (which unfortunately often becomes aggregate behavior.)

A friend sent me an email this week outlining several prominent thinkers' reasons for not voting:
Don Boudreaux, Robert Lawson, and of course for comedy's sake, George Carlin. There are many others. Conversely, there are just as many if not more who advocate getting out to cast your vote. Reasons being it's historically important, it will make you feel good/strong/important/, it's your civic duty (how many times did I hear in college and in the news that other than jury duty voting is our only truly civic duty and even as a duty it's still a privilege which makes it even better!), and lastly it's a right.

However, I have to admit that I know my personal vote DOES NOT MATTER. My sitting at home on the couch while my countrymen vote will not alter the results. And, if I happen to be doing something that is more value-creating that sitting on the couch drumming up ad revenue for the TV station then my time was actually far better spent - for both me and America.

So, why am I going to drag myself to the polls to cast my measly, unimportant vote? Because it is my right and there happens to be a candidate who I actually like and respect - John McCain. I've always liked McCain... and even in the heyday of my personal liberality would have considered voting for him over Al Gore (assuming I was old enough.) I do not agree with him on everything, but I trust his judgment, character, and experience. I don't think there could be a better man running (although there are some women who are not in the race.) Even my overwhelming support of McCain is not reason enough for me to turn out to the polls.

My reason for voting: I was to preserve my fundamental right of citizenship as executed through voting. I do not think this is my duty. I think it's my right and therefore must be considered at least somewhat a privilege. Nothing will happen to me if I don't vote. My rights will not be infringed upon. However, I do think that the current political course of America is heading down a road that wants to restrict freedom and rights in lieu of perceived [domestic] safety and bailouts for those who could not exercise enough judgment to keep themselves out of personally harmful situations.

I also respect my great-grandmother who marched for my right to vote. I respect Hillary Clinton - and especially her Convention acknowledgement that her grandmother could not vote and that her daughter now had the opportunity to cast a vote to nominate her for the presidency. I respect the men and women to fight to preserve our rights and that those rights are founded in the Constitution and nowhere else. Personally, the only reason I think rights exist is because God created humanity and therefore everyone is equal in His eyes. However, that does not extend to the political (although it should and can.) Therefore, I am incredibly thankful that my governing document was changed to incorporate all adult citizens to vote in this country: male, female, black, white, young, old, rich, poor. And, I want to exercise my right because they are often taken for granted and I don't ever want to forget why I am privileged enough to have a right to vote and freely express my opinions.

So, don't vote because it's your duty or it's important. Vote because you want to actively exercise a right that you value. And, if you don't have the time, it's okay. Lucky for you, your citizenship does not depend on exercising your rights and the Constitution still protects them for you as long as it is upheld. My plea for voting day is to read the Constitution even if that means you don't have the time to make it to the polls. Read it. Learn from it. And never forget the fundamental precepts of our government because such knowledge is quickly fading.