Obama: cause for optimism, maybe

Artus Register

Among the many concerns stemming from the inauguration of Barack Obama there is some good news, and some hope.

First, an incoming President means an outgoing one.  And while many of his tyrannical ideas may remain, George W. Bush is gone.  After eight years of Constitution-shredding, dictatorial proclamations, empire expanding, unimaginable spending, reputation destroying, government expanding, etc. Mr. Bush’s departure is a welcome reprieve from the advancing shadow of hyper-national, jingoistic, neo-fascism.

President Obama has promised to immediately close Guantanamo Bay, an infamous symbol of the U.S.. government’s abject lack of ethics, complete dishonesty, unapologetic cruelty, and gleeful disobedience of its own Constitution.

The incoming Administration has stated its intention to end the abysmal mistake that was and is the war in Iraq.  Caution is urged with on this note as Obama has stated that he wants more troops in Afghanistan. So this may be a case of simply doing the right thing here, and the wrong thing there.  In Afghanistan, there is at least the illusion that American troops are hunting down Al Qaeda rather than spraying opium crops, nation building, and training a foreign army.

Though our friends at NORML say the news so far isn’t good, there is a much better chance that an Obama administration will not stomp on medical marijuana rights as the Bush’s team did–despite W’s campaign promises in 2000 that he would not interfere with state marijuana laws.

Though they are unapologetic hypocrites, the Democrats would look awfully foolish after making so much noise about warrantless wiretaps and other privacy intrusions if they didn’t address the those issues, and undo some of the pro-government, anti-individual laws that gut privacy protection.

A lot changes are required to make any real difference in government, be it its approaching every problem with more money and power, its vast scope, or its self-replicating nature.  And the incoming administration has a long way to go before it proves itself a friend to liberty–economic of otherwise.  Most likely, if will be a shell game, and we the people will receive some relief on the one hand, and a heavier jackboot on the other.   There is little reason to believe that whatever “change” Mr. Obama brings to the political landscape, it will be significant enough to elevate liberty and shrink government.  But there may be some cause for a occasional smile, and with the cracks in the dam this administration may implement, fans of freedom might be able to–with a lot of work and serious commitment–scratch, chisel and claw actual holes.

For significant change to occur, the masses must begin to see government as the failure that it is; as a predatory gang of parasitic thieves eager to help you with your own money, and relieve from you the burden of responsibility.  Perhaps a President–seen as many as the opposite of the previous one–will serve as the ultimate illustration that government simply can’t.  This isn’t what his slogans of “Hope” and “Change” meant, but they might turn out to be more prophetic than Mr. Obama realizes.

Add comment January 21st, 2009