The Long Cut

Category: politics

  • On Cynicism

    “It’s a lot easier to be cynical; to accept that change is not possible, and politics is hopeless, and the problem is all the folks who are elected don’t care, and to believe that our voices and actions don’t matter.

    But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future. Those with money and power will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war, or allow another economic disaster, or roll back the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have fought, even died, to secure. And then, as frustration grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into our respective tribes, to scapegoat fellow citizens who don’t look like us, or pray like us, or vote like we do, or share the same background.

    We can’t afford to go down that path. It won’t deliver the economy we want. It will not produce the security we want. But most of all, it contradicts everything that makes us the envy of the world. 

    So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, whether you supported my agenda or fought as hard as you could against it — our collective futures depends on your willingness to uphold your duties as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us.

    We need every American to stay active in our public life — and not just during election time — so that our public life reflects the goodness and the decency that I see in the American people every single day.”

    — President Barack Obama, Final State of the Union, January 13, 2016

    The day after the election, I went to DC for a work trip and added a few extra days to wander the monuments and explore the Smithsonian museums. I hadn’t been back since leaving in 2018, so it was nice to have time to enjoy the treasure that it is and dwell on the future of our country.

    I’m still clarifying my thoughts, but one thing is clear to me: cynicism will not serve us in the years to come. It is merely a manifestation of anxiety that serves only to extinguish hope. In times of change, life can feel overwhelming – that we are not in control. I’d encourage us all to look for the joy in our own lives, the kindness we can show to others, and the difference our decisions can make each day. We still have freedom to make the world a brighter place through our own actions.

  • One Year Later

    With the state of the union address rapidly approaching, I want to highlight some excellent articles bringing Obama’s first year into perspective. Many people have become disheartened by the lack of swift action by the administration on many topics – health care, Iraq, the economy, etc. I’d encourage you to read Andrew Sullivan’s article: Obama’s Substantive First Year:

    Obama is a liberal pragmatist in politics and a traditional conservative in his understanding of the presidency. Once you grasp this, his first year makes much more sense.

    The article highlights Obama’s strengths and shortcomings in a calm, collected manner. Further reading on the year’s accomplishments:

    All that is great – things have been getting done… so what’s our problem with Obama? The New Yorker addresses this succinctly – One Year: Storyteller-in-Chief:

    I’ve been an Obama man all the way. I voted for him in 2008 and I’ll vote for him again in 2012, with far less enthusiasm. But it would help me out so much if he could give me some kind of story to hang onto. At this stage, a scrap would suffice. A President can have all the vision in the world, be an extraordinary orator and a superb politician, have courage and foresight and a willingness to make painful choices, have a bold progressive plan for his nation—but none of these things will matter a wit if the President cannot couch his vision, his policies, his courage, his will, his plan in the idiom of story.

    People need stories to latch on to and remembering our personal narrative is vital to projecting our future. Obama would be wise to heed these words: after all, so much of his meteoric rise comes from his extraordinary storytelling (Dreams from My Father, anyone?).

    As for me, I remain optimistic about the future of the administration. A great deal of current frustrations have to do with participation. 2008 was a never-ending deluge of political news and activism. Working for the campaign and delivering Indiana was the highlight of my year. In 2009 our nation had to unwind and reconcile our own drive for action with the notion that legislating is a full-time job, requiring a ton of expertise. The government is huge and most people don’t have time to read every bill, to learn the details of every issue – that’s why we are a representative democracy. I think a large part of liberal frustration comes from a headstrong dislike of delegation. We have to let those we elected do their job; our role as citizens is to give them feedback through our communications and then our votes.

    From the inaugural address Obama knew he faced a myriad of difficult problems:

    Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.  They are serious and they are many.  They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.  But know this America:  They will be met.

    We still face serious challenges, but fortunately we have three (hopefully seven) more years. Let’s recognize those challenges “future work” and take solace what’s already been accomplished in this short portion of the excruciatingly slow march of progress. My hope for the State of the Union is that it frames our current challenges in the “unlikely story that is America”, reasserting that once again we will meet and far surpass our challenges.