I wish that I were as happy as others appear to be
The Hope is very contagious, no? Everyone, including me, wants to be optimistic, particularly during such uncertainty, and particularly after the last eight (twenty? fifty?) years.
But the nearly religious exuberance covered in the media, and to a lesser degree among friends, is sickly sweet, cloying. It’s almost painful to watch, and I almost feed bad calling it out.
He deserves a chance to deliver, and he will, no doubt, execute on some high-profile promises, like the closing of Gitmo, and ending our shameful policy of torture. These are important, and I salute him.
On the other hand, he will probably also be given a free pass, for a long time, on equally serious issues where there is the merest illusion of Change, or indeed none at all. A pass that another administration would never receive.
Remember, despite everyone’s attempts to complicate the issue, spending a trillion dollars isn’t actually the goal; the goal is a strong economy. I hope that America doesn’t throw a party next week when we embark on the former, to the detriment of the latter.
When the Senate confirms Obama’s Drug Czar to continue policies that destroy lives, waste money, and trample liberties, I hope people acknowledge that the behemoth of government rarely changes course without sustained pressure beyond one man and a single election.
When we withdraw from Iraq, yet leave thirty, fifty, seventy thousand troops indefinitely, I hope the protests continue as they would have under a Bush administration.
As we continue to spend unsustainable, unconscionable amounts on global empire, even as our economy crumbles, I hope people seriously question their blind trust in government to do the right thing when it doesn’t even sink the easy buckets.
For those satisfied to welcome anyone but Bush into government’s highest office, yesterday was a celebration for the ages. For those who seek peace, freedom, and sound fiscal policy, it still feels like a wake.
gervais said,
January 22, 2009 @ 02:30
I hear you bud. I spied a recent interview with Obama in Engineering Inc., where he spoke of injecting money into infrastructure – which pleased civil engineering consultants everywhere (I have to admit that my ears were sweetened as well). I was disturbed to read the end of the interview where he promised to also lower taxes across the board for middle income America. While I don’t oppose lowering taxes, I oppose spending resources that we simply don’t have.
While the price of steel, copper, and raw aggregate is experiencing a temporary lull due to the dip in the price of oil – I’m certain that a perfect storm will erupt when we are in the midst of building new highways, tank-farms and superstructures. I have first-hand experience with infrastructure and what it takes to fund, plan, design and build infrastructure and I don’t like what I see when I’m looking into the crystal ball on my desk.
Here’s what I see:
Billions of dollars will be directed to infrastructure projects throughout the country.
Engineering firms flutter about, designing this bridge and that pump station.
Contracting firms spring out of their holes and under-bid jobs with material costs that are highly undervalued.
Meanwhile, China and other growing economies continue to use raw materials at a mind-blowing pace, thus driving the cost of raw materials to new records.
Taxes are lowered across the board for middle income America and thus, the US government revenue stream diminishes somewhat.
US government taxes large corporations and high income America to cover their loss from middle income America.
Large corporations and high income America relocates to other countries where it’s less cumbersome to do business.
During the heat of construction, the low bid contractors (remember that these are public contracts) find that their material costs are mounting and they start issuing RFIs for all sorts of issues. RFIs turn into change orders and then, we’re faced with public construction projects that are reaching record level costs.
With a diminished tax base (remember that high income and corporate America has moved away) and a leaner revenue stream from middle America, US Government prints more money to pay for the increasing cost of the public contracts.
Meanwhile, the price of oil inevitably increases, and that – my friend – is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Instead of having half-built housing tracts, we’ll have highways that lead to nowhere and pump stations filled with spider webs rather than water.
Then again, there is a chance (albeit slight) that the US goverment might get this thing right. I am hopeful that our new leader will inspire the RIGHT KIND OF CHANGE and not the same old bullshit.