Rethinking the American Electorate after an Obama Victory
We are on the cusp of a very special moment in the US. Barring extremely unusual or dramatically unforeseen circumstances, we are less than two weeks away from a great day for the United States as we definitively close the book on the dishonesty, incompetence, belligerence and ignorance which has characterized the Bush administration. Election Day will not just mean the end of almost a decade of dysfunctional Republican governance, but will also show that Americans are ready and anxious for progressive and thoughtful leadership.
November 4th will also be a great day for democracy as millions of people will join together and through the simple act of voting change their country and the world unequivocally and for the better. The world has rarely seen the people of any democracy rise up peacefully and send such a clear message. All those who don't believe that democracy can work or that voters are only driven by their baser instincts will have to wrestle with the message the people of our country will send on Election Day.
It ain't, as the famous American philosopher Lawrence Berra would say, over until its over, but if I may continue the baseball allusion, we are now up by a few runs with one out in the 9th and have Mariano Rivera on the mound. I recognize that, even the great Rivera blows a save every now and then and than in order to ensure victory we all have to continue to work, volunteer and, of course, vote, but having said that, I am going to address some of the often overlooked issues which an Obama victory would raise.
One of the great things about an Obama victory is that it will force a lot of people to rethink a lot of things. People outside the US who have bought into the appealingly reductive anti-Americanism rhetoric of recent years, will have to rethink some of their basic assumptions about our country. This will be particularly true among those on the European left who may want to stop and ask themselves what it tells them about the US, and their own countries, that somebody like Barack Obama will be our leader. Others in Europe and elsewhere who perhaps pay less attention to the US will have to rethink their view of the US as a conservative country which likes to elect cowboys and bubbas, as we have in recent years.
Right wingers in the US will have to revisit their assumptions about the inherent racism and conservatism of the American people as well as the power of wedge issues to divide people and lead them to vote on their fears. Emphasizing bizarre issues such as Obama's acquaintance with Bill Ayers, or calling Obama a socialist because of his notion that tax policy should not simply redistribute wealth upwards, failed to influence more than a few voter this time. This should suggest to the operatives of the right wing that they their cynical understanding of America can be trumped by a more affirming and progressive sentiment in the electorate.
It is, however, the American left which will have to do the most intriguing and challenging rethinking of basic assumptions when Obama wins. For years now a central piece of the progressive worldview is that progressives are enlightened Americans in a sea of their ignorant, bigoted and narrow-minded compatriots. If you don't believe my assertion, see how many times in the comments section of a progressive blog, Americans voters are referred to as ignorant or uninformed, or eavesdrop at any progressive coffee shop or other hangout. Opposition to progressive causes is often explained away by saying that Americans are bigots, or somehow stupid. This demonstrates an ugly contempt for voters, and in fact for democracy, that should have no place in progressive politics.
Nonetheless, this feeling of specialness is a central part of progressive identity for many. For example, the tone often used to express disbelief that Obama could win, particularly early in this campaign, was often a mixture of anger with racism and a sense of self-righteousness from the speaker for being above that racism.
November 4th will almost certainly show these beliefs to be the nonsense that they are. After November 4th, whenever somebody belittles the intelligence or tolerance of the American voter the proper response will be "What about when we elected Barack Obama?" I hope for many this will be understood to be a sign that American voters can be more progressive, enlightened and thoughtful than had previously been believed. Obama will win because willingness to vote for somebody who looks different, and whose name sounds unusual, simply because he is the best candidate, is no longer the province of elites or an educated minority. This may cause progressives to rethink much of what they thought they knew about America, but it seems a small price to pay for an Obama presidency.
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Lincoln, the world will not be quick to judge. The task before your candidate is thus. Improved roads, cars, manufacturing, great paying jobs, medical care, excellent safe schooling, the allowing of everyone to come and enjoy free, and all of this with no cost to any existing American citizen. No new taxes, no new stresses, no infringement on privacy, no interference what so ever. You have heard third times the charm! Clinton came close to impeachment, people have called for Bushes impeachment so it goes to figure....The rah rah will not be that of Regan, go to your computer and look up political maps and on Nov. 5th compare! This is not a joyous time. The rhetoric will be that people didn't vote FOR Obama but against McCain that means people don't agree with Obama. Nor will they blindly follow him. Infact if we're not careful you could have blood. Do you think other countries want that? The media will begin trying to sooth the public but that soothing will only be reached with recanting their position and attack. Recently Biden said Interview over.. is that the government you want? Obama is about to find out he works for us not himself. And the IMF is setting up to align the uneven world. Heres the future; the world will burn us up because we won't play their game.
People generally do not change their world view. Otherwise San Francisco would have grow more conservative during the Reagan and Bush years. The oposite is true. Democrats dominating both branches and leaving a more liberal court will only serve to energize (and probably anger) the Right.
Interesting that Dems are so giddy about taking full control, but it will only serve to shorten their time in power.
This is a fantastic article. I can hardly believe this is about to happen. There is hope for a better America, a better future. It still feels like a dream too good to be true. Respected by the world. Not a laughingstock (might take a while to get used to that one). Having a leader who not only can string words together, but he makes incredibly good sense and tends to inspire listeners. Someone who wants to bring the country together (this skill of Obama's was apparent in law school - when he was on the law review, he was friends with the right-wingers as well as the lefties). Amazing. Incredible. I just don't what more to say but november 4 will be a good day for the world indeed.
The "appealingly reductive anti-Americanism rhetoric" you might be hearing from my country needs clarification just in case people actually believe that it's true.
Britain regards America as a friend and an ally, indeed our countries do have a certain "special relationship" and considering the numbers of the "Founding Fathers" who were of British descent, America is like family to us. So if a member of our family has the many troubles that you so eloquently point out, Lincoln, then I believe we are entitled to voice our concern for our brethren and we hope you'd understand. Critique is a actually Pro-American; use it to your advantage.
As for attempting to eradicate certain attitudes toward the perceived ignorance amongst voters, you can only change ignorance through education. It's just a shame the last lesson took 8 years to learn, but you will be tested on the subject on 4th November, let's hope you pass with flying colours.
No matter how we look at it. No matter who gets elected on Nov. 4th. There's going to be an outbreak of hatred. The last 3 elections have progressively gotten closer and closer because of the dividedness of our nation. Whether it be race, religion, selfishness, greed, jealousy, they are all fuel for hatred. It seems more and more people everyday are developing hatred of peoples' differences, instead of becoming more and more tolerant of each other. I thought that was what it was to be American. The US is a total melting pot. We MUST learn to get along. I know it sounds cliché, but is that a bad thing? Let's change our ways, our attitudes, and our selfishness. Love your neighbor as yourself. Whatever happened to that? We must RESPECT others' opinions, even if they are not our own. We need to learn to agree or compromise in a civil way. It's called "civilization".
Since Barack Obama will be our next President, we have to think in terms of "UINITY" Not a White America or a Black America but the United States of America.
I am Godly proud of Barack Obama for placing his life before the American people with Excellence.
He demonstrated through his entire campaign, Respect for others and Restraint when being verbally abused and maligned.
He witness to the American people the Gospel of Jesus Christ put into action.
He blessed those that cursed him and despitefully used his reputation as a floor mat.
He showed love to those who said all manner of evil against him falsely and with class showed the world how christians bear up under stress and strain.
As our President to be, let me be the first to rise up and call him blessed.
May God bless his entire Presidency as well his your family.
Thanks again for your life's lesson.
The reason the Republican Religious leaning Right was able to flip the middle finger to the American people so long and terrorize us with their immoral, dictatoral, in your face erode and rip to shreds the Constitution is because the American people were not on their A-Game.
We did't study the issues, we didn't get to know the canidates and we allowed the
Republicans free reign to do as they please.
We became frightened at all of the power we allowed them to have and didn't call them on anything.
We swollowed hook line and sinker everything they put before us.
Those who were brave enough to call this Administration on their stuff paid the price for it.
Even then we did not come to their defense.
We might have uttered how brave they were and offered our sincere appreciation for their sacrifice
as a whistle blower but that is as far as it went.
We are just as much responsible for how long the Republicans held America captive as they
imposed their will on us. Congradulation to those who fought the good fight and won.
This will never happen again because we have all discovered the era of our ways and have become an empowered people who understand the ramifications of a Nut being elected to the White House.
put a hold on the awards ceremony: it took an awful lot of outright buffonery and international homicide for the US to move all the way from a 50-50 split to 53-47 split. The kind of incompetence and mismanagement the US leadership has demonstrated would have had barricades in the streets in a European democracy. The kind of asinine civics America has been indulging in are the cause of new flags being sewn and the past utterly repudiated in a 'progressive' nation.
One of the most significant problems in this country that needs "re-thinking" is - - abject, blind, paranoid, rockheaded ideological partisanship. To greater-and-greater degrees, especially since the '94 congressional elections, the rise of Newt Gingrich, the hypocrisy of the extreme Religious Right, the "get Clinton at any cost" movement, the 2000 election debacle, the 2004 Swiftboating and, now, "Obama's communist mentors, radicalized associates, and phony birth certificate", "Right" and "Left" (now doing the "get even" thing) partisanship has become so divisive, so engaged in the politics or personal destruction, so imbued with paranoid misrepresentations - - that serious problems facing the nation simply cannot be resolved in a truly collaborative, cooperative, expeditious, effective and positive manner!
Problem #1? Change the currently "Divided" States back into the "United" States. Otherwise, the goals enumerated in the article above become nothing more than another passing wave of hot air.
Just wait and see if it is all DEMOCRATS...President and Congress.....
I heard on a show this a.m that in the early speeches about abortions, that Obama said that he had
2 daughters and if one of them got pregnant by mistake, why should they be forced to have a baby
as punishment....
So you can see that not all people will agree with some of his views...Especially those opposed to abortion.
Our jobs are gone because of the tax on the corporations. For what they pay in tax and what they pay
the workers in the U.S. they can make more (greed) money in other countries....Our problem is that
we receive their goods in a way that it is still cheaper for them to outsource.
However, how about tech jobs....they are not the blue collar worker.
Nafta was signed in the 90's by Clinton....So we have outsourced a lot of jobs in the past 9 or 10 years.
Bush has only been in not quite 8 years.
Also, as far as the huge deficit, it was unfortunate that we had 9/11/2001. If Clinton had taken care
of that problem (it started in 94 or 95 ) when the Trade towers were bombed the first time.
Put the blame on both parties...not just the favored one. Also, if the Repubs happen to win the election, the news will be all over it saying it was because of Race.
berrycooda caught lying again.
Berrycooda, where do you get your "facts", Our jobs are not gone becuase of "taxes" on "corporations", they are gone because of (mostly) republican policies that encourage them to go to places like taiwan, or bangledesh. Are those the "greed" freindly places you want america to be like? really?
As for abortion (you religious fundies always give yourselves away) YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY. get it? most americans agree with bill clinton, barrack obama, and john mcain that abortion should remain legal. scream about it all you want, its aint' changing anything.
and as for the deficit, bill clinton , DID DEAL WITH IT. He left office with a BUDGET SURPLUS. these are true and verifiable facts. stop spreading lies. why do you spread lies berrycooda? do you hate america so much that you want to kill whats left of it by campaigning for elitist, greedy, right wing politicians, whos policies have driven america to the brink, of ruin? do you and john mcain really want to destroy america?
You are so right, though many won't agree with you. Because they only look at things through their own prospective, not what the real truth is. Bush and his party didn't cause every problem that we have. There is enough blame to go around on both sides. But we will never be able to solve the problems were not one people anymore we are two separate parties blaming the other.
"Others in Europe and elsewhere who perhaps pay less attention to the US will have to rethink their view of the US as a conservative country which likes to elect cowboys and bubbas, as we have in recent years."
This is a fatuous comment based on a half-truth. While few would disagree that Bush is a "cowboy," as he often actually poses as one on his "ranch" in Crawford, to imply that Clinton, and who else could he have been referring to, is a "Bubba" is ridiculous.
Clinton was a Rhodes scholar and is a famously brilliant, although long-winded, person that is also a political genius. The fact that this "conservative" country elected a left-leaning moderate to the presidency does not in any way fit Mr. Mitchell's premise.
he was adressing european political stereotyopes of the american electorate. why do you act like it hurts your feelings? we HAVE damaged our reputation around the world. is that a shock to you? "we" have done things that are worthy of reputation damage, like elect bush twice,althought the main thrust of the article is that we are not as provincial, ignorant and confrontational as we seem to everyone else. i hope hes right.
I agree with this author 100% I often refer to the average voter as IGNORANT , not in a derisive way, but just unaware of reality and facts. I try to convince many an average worker, The same mantra Reps. ahve used in each election and once again this year, in spite of the fact, OBAMA and Biden have repeatedly denied that. Same with national defence. Even though we do not have to faer any imminent attacks from a major power( none exists) many average Joe some how thinks our huge Armed forces will just sit and watch if that happens, if a Democrat is in the Whitehouse! The Europeans who learn a little bit more history and civics in their schools, After all many of us came from there, and they helped us form the so Called USA! But many here foreget taht and critizice them if they do not agree with us 100 % as in our policy toward Israel, Arabia and Iraq. Folks let us educate our kids, so that they will vote intelligently when the time comes. Taxes are needed to supported the life style we are used to. Good roads, good postal system, and defence etc. But we can control coast, cut waste, cut beurocarcy. Spend more on eduvcation and health care. Is it not a shame we cannot treat all our sickpeople , whe Europeans dont worry paying 50% in taxes. They get alot and do not complain.
Your wrong about all the Europeans not worrying or complaining about paying 50% in taxes. My nephew lives in Denmark and he pays 62% in taxes. He says wages are high but everything else is high. He says he does not live as well there as we do in the u.s.a. I have a friend in Canada where they have socialist medicine. She said the wait was so long for her surgery that she came to the u.s.a. to have it done at her own expense. And her own choice of a doctor. Bad or good, Capitalism is much better then socialism. To depend on the government to put together free programs for the people and funded by more taxes of the people is not the answer, it lowers the quality instead of raising the quality. But we will all be divided because some people do want the government to get involved and pay for everything for everyone.
This isnt an argument over capatialism and socialism. america will NEVER be a "socialist" country . its good that your freinds canadian insurance is so good that it will pay for her to come to america for surgical procedures. thats the kind of quality of life i want for AMERICANS TOO!she dosent have to wait to see a doctor in america because so few americans can actually GO to a doctor.. I had to respond to your charge about Denmark tho, because it is misleading. My Beautiful wife, who i married in DENMARK. is still in culture shock over how miserable the american way of life is. this election has been terrifying for her becuase of the hatred that is easy for her to see. she dosent understand how so many americans can be so selfish and hateful, that they would rather see other americans die from hunger and disease, rather than pay 2-5% more in taxes. sometimes she cries,and gets depressed, and i leave the news off at home. she has become so homesick for europe that i have sold two of my vintaqge gibson guitars to finance a long trip back there for her and i in the spring. so leave your BS stories about how great america is and how jealous the europeans are, back at world net daily. or wherever!
Hopefully an Obama win will bring about the destruction of the Republican Party. What the people of this country have to come to understand is that in a Democracy, government is by the people. That in a representative democracy such as ours political parties are suppose to represent the will of the people and not the special interest of the corporations or institutions, when that happens what you have is fascism. Those crowds that John McCain and Sarah Palin speak to, what is it that they don't understand, how many of them are earning more than 250,000 a year? Probably none yet they cheer, Obama tells them that companies that stay and do bussiness here he will help - they Boo him, John McCain tells them that although American companies continue to move and send their jobs over seas, his solution's is to give them more tax benefits and they cheer.
Than you for a well-written, insightful, and astute article. You bring up many points worth considering. I have to say, though, that my impression of the smug progressive attitude is that it's not so much that many progressives think the majority of the American electorate is stupid; it's that they are ill-informed. Some of this ignorance is self-created through a myopic vision of the world and an unwillingness to open one's eyes. This kind of ignorance I find to be inexcusable because learning is the single most important reason for being in my opinion. Some of this ignorance is a result of Americans being worked FAR TOO much and having NO leisure time to contemplate anything other than rest. This kind of ignorance makes me sad because I realize there are too many Americans with as of yet unfulfilled lives because there is just no time. The worst kind of ignorance is the lack of awareness of the truth deliberately being created by corporate America in order to more easily force consumption on the masses. Being progressive is about moving forward and in order to do that you have to learn; we can all forgive those that feel that they may know something that the rest of America flat-out refuses to even attempt to see and become frustrated to the point of snobbery. If the electorate sees the light and votes accordingly, I think we can all take hope that learning IS possible.
If Obama wins, Americans will have no time to worry about what the rest of the world thinks of us because we will be BANKRUPT. Corporate America pays 38% tax. They go overseas, they pay 11% tax. Mccain wants to cut their taxes to 11% to "encourage" them to stay in the US. Obama wants to raise their taxes 3 or 4%....that will get them to stay in America, won't it?? Who hires you people?? CORPORATE AMERICA! How will raising taxes on corporate America create jobs, Obama?
I meant Mccain will cut taxes for corporate American's to 28%, not 11%.
Easy. If we raise taxes on corporate America, and we give more money back to middle America, then middle America will have more money to give corporate American for all the great crap corporate America hawks, so corporate America's revenues will go up. Pretty simple, isn't it?
Idest,
You really should not comment on subjects you do not understand.
Corporate profits are channelled offshore to tax haven nations by the simple expedient of setting up service companies. There is one small office in the Cayman Islands that hosts the Management Services Headquarters of several thousand international corporations. These companies basically send U.S. Canadian, British and other businesses invoices for "management services" basially billing them for sending them invoices. It is not illegal, it is legitimate international trade.
How do I know? Well as a Management Consultant I did not actually vitit The Caymans but I did carry out assignments in Bermuda, The British Virgin Islands, The Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Nice work if you can get it.
I dealt with Information Technology and so was involved in setting up automated cash transfer systems, I also used to take advantage of tax havens to reduce my own tax liability so I know what I am talking about.
Mr. Obama's plans will simply make it economically attractive for smaller corporations to move profits offshore.
http://machiavelli.blog.co.uk/2008/10/13/2f3a4fccca6406e35bcf33e92dd93135moneythe-great-freemarketillusion-4864992
Those percentages are ARBITRARY. There are far too many loopholes and corners that can be cut in order to DRASTICALLY change the amount being paid by both individuals AND businesses of all sizes. It is silly to think that Obama is not aware of one of the most fundamental concepts of trade and the world economy. Even if somehow those numbers are accurate, they are an over-simplification. The LAST thing either man is going to do is discourage still more industry to move off-shore. What Obama has proposed is extremely progressive taxes in almost every area which means that if you are building solar panels, expanding your company on American soil and creating JOBS, your taxes will be LOW. If you are a widget company employing labor in China and using parts from Malaysia your taxes will be HIGH (and they should be).
Neither candidate constructively addresses the secondary problem with job creation as it is currently practiced in America. Hard goods labeled "Made In USA" usually are made here--but often with illegal immigrant labor, rather than by Americans. The bitter irony is that we who have "criminal" records--disorderly conduct for political or other protest, nitpick police harassment while protesting, etc--are considered unemployable, while illegals who travel across the country in stolen cars, with groceries and wardrobe looted from Americans living near the border, are hired immediately. Education? HS grads with a good command of English and math are turned away, or tested with illegals who are provided with the answers and/or a translator.
Can we please, please take these looters' tax breaks away from them and shove them where the sun never shines??
As long as these issues are not addressed by Obama, he will lose working-class votes.
No, they are taxed 11% by the other countries, not the USA. If they don't have a company in America, they are not taxed by our government. Obama wants to raise taxes to people making over 250k by 3 or 4% and lower taxes for middle Americans. If you make 250k a year you are already in the 28% tax bracket. Obama is an idiot. He will cause more unemployment in America. He is promising "short term" change for middle Americans but it will not last because Middle Americans need JOBS.
Jimmy Carter was not aware of it and Obama has the exact same "windmill" policies!!
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