By Jonathan Carrillo

President Barack Obama

The democratic majority’s chokehold on both houses of congress seems to offer the tantalizing vision of an effective Obama administration, but the panoply of problems he will inherit on January 20th, 2009 does little to inspire hope.

Nobel laureate in economics Joseph Stiglitz says that “We are witnessing the biggest crisis since the Great Depression…things will get considerably worse.”  Nor can we forget our two ongoing wars and the resurgence of Russia’s totalitarian bellicosity (when exactly did capitulation and the passive reception of threats become the hallmark of American foreign policy?).
Problems like this might have made Washington quiver and Lincoln quail. Only a fool would dismiss the possibility of an ineffective President Obama. Let us not forget, it is kind of a hard job and rather easy to screw up.

So much for Obama the president; now on to Obama the demagogue. His campaign tapped into vast rivers of emotion flowing through America‘s subconscious. Naturally, we all saw reason to rejoice at the milestone of his election, yet nothing is more dangerous to democracy than raw emotion.
It makes us irrational, lowers the quality of our discourse, and can yield social divisiveness. I have already witnessed this happen; in fact I was a culprit. Filled with pride and moved by the historical significance, I reacted with pure emotion when I felt that significance was being shortchanged. Though I was fortunate enough to realize the error of my ways, others may not be so lucky. Will every detractor be accused of racism? This wave of powerful and volatile emotion made a good friend, whom I nearly came to blows, with refer to Obama‘s victory as “dangerous and scary.”

Are we justified in basking in the event’s importance to our children if it means ignoring what may happen a year from now? Some people, media pundits included, even claim that racism is in the early stages of demise and that minorities will soon overcome prejudice entirely. In believing this, they are ignoring the much more insidious institutionalization of racism.

What must be avoided above all else is the idea that Obama’s victory is only for African Americans and other minorities. A racial group’s desire to claim his success is divisive and unpatriotic. If we do not stop thinking along racial lines, than change, my friends, will never come.

Let me remind you: I do support Obama, but I will not hesitate to confront ridiculous notions. Barrack Obama’s change is neither radical nor revolutionary. He is an American politician, well schooled in the practice of politics. Obama ran a great campaign by mobilizing voters and making a credible offer of hope. This ostensibly intelligent and respectable man has energized America with his good intentions. He is a human being, no different from the rest of us but for the office he holds. That is democracy.
Obama excelled at projecting the image of savior, but can he satisfy the expectations of the many diverse demographic groups he attracted to his banner? How does one cut taxes for 95 percent of the population while simultaneously rebuilding the world’s largest army and confronting the worst economic crisis in 50 years? Obama said “It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.” To Mr. Obama and all of you who believe this, you are wrong.