While the Obama Administration fights for the speedy approval of a multi-billion dollar pork- er.. excuse me, stimulus - package, the Great Deciders in the White House are simultaneously arguing that offshore drilling should be put on hold until Americans can have more time to comment on it. Being heralded as a fresh face - a relief from politics as usual - was Obama's greatest claim to fame. As a Republican, I was somewhat dubious, or rather I was downright skeptical, of any politician's ability to bring true change, but I was especially worried about Obama because the media, as we have seen and will continue to see, has already placed him on a podium of perfection, untried and untested.
To put some much faith in one man and one institution seems naive at best and destructive at worst. The President is entrusted with the task of protecting the nation and ensuring the safety of the American people. President Obama seems not to understand his task and has not realized the divide between the legislative and executive branches of the government. Where one (Congress) is constitutionally instructed to oversee the federal monies (taxes, borrowing, etc.), the other (President) is commanded to ensure security and safety. For this the Executive must present a strong face, and a powerful persona to the world and to the people. He should not be legislating from the Oval Office, nor should he be spending such an enormous amount of time padding the pockets of his party members.
As cynical as it sounds, the truth is that the current government is slowly becoming one body. The current president is capable of exerting too much power due partially to the celebrity status bestowed upon the first family and the resulting fear many congresspeople now have in going against the president, but also because the American people have allowed the government to function with little or no oversight. We have allowed or representatives to tell us what is best for us, yet we have not truly investigated whether the decisions really are. While it is nearly impossible for the majority of us to actually keep tabs on all legislation begin discussed, we can show our elected officials that we care. Instead of simply following the media's garbled translation we must attempt to become more knowledgeable of the bills and proposals being made by our government. If we can show our leaders that we do care and we are paying attention, perhaps they will be more hesitant to infuse what can be helpful and necessary bills with earmarks, and they will think twice before reducing the American people to a "chattering class."
To put some much faith in one man and one institution seems naive at best and destructive at worst. The President is entrusted with the task of protecting the nation and ensuring the safety of the American people. President Obama seems not to understand his task and has not realized the divide between the legislative and executive branches of the government. Where one (Congress) is constitutionally instructed to oversee the federal monies (taxes, borrowing, etc.), the other (President) is commanded to ensure security and safety. For this the Executive must present a strong face, and a powerful persona to the world and to the people. He should not be legislating from the Oval Office, nor should he be spending such an enormous amount of time padding the pockets of his party members.
As cynical as it sounds, the truth is that the current government is slowly becoming one body. The current president is capable of exerting too much power due partially to the celebrity status bestowed upon the first family and the resulting fear many congresspeople now have in going against the president, but also because the American people have allowed the government to function with little or no oversight. We have allowed or representatives to tell us what is best for us, yet we have not truly investigated whether the decisions really are. While it is nearly impossible for the majority of us to actually keep tabs on all legislation begin discussed, we can show our elected officials that we care. Instead of simply following the media's garbled translation we must attempt to become more knowledgeable of the bills and proposals being made by our government. If we can show our leaders that we do care and we are paying attention, perhaps they will be more hesitant to infuse what can be helpful and necessary bills with earmarks, and they will think twice before reducing the American people to a "chattering class."
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