Via Open Left;
Lately, friends, family and colleagues have been asking me what everyone is asking everyone: Obama can't lose, can he?
Well, of course he can, but I refuse to entertain the idea of it in my own head, not because of its supposed impossibility, but because of the consequences of that scenario.
By "consequences" I don't only mean policy. Yes, Obama losing would mean John McCain as president (awful), an extension of 4 more years of Bush policies (even more awful), and perhaps a war with Iran (beyond awful and into straight-up apocalyptic territory).
But the consequence that would be as horrendous if not more so would be the psychological damage. Obama losing would tear the hearts out of millions of people who had been trained by our media and political Establishment to be cynical - and who opted to put aside that cynicism for a moment and believe that politics, government and elections matter. If that happens, we'll never be able to address or solve any of the impending crises we now face.
If Obama loses, I fear people will go back into their shell of cynicism, perhaps never to come out again in a fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me kind of way. Lots of people feel their youthful idealism of the past was silly after having learned how politics works. But this time around, they have put aside that understandable cynicism and have decided to believe again - but if Obama loses, they will feel fooled a second time, potentially sowing that cynicism for good.
Full article here.
Thanks Jacob.
"I got chills.
They're multiplyin'.
And I'm losin' control.
'Cause the power
you're suplyin',
it's electrifyin'!"
Via Open Left;
Lately, friends, family and colleagues have been asking me what everyone is asking everyone: Obama can't lose, can he?
Well, of course he can, but I refuse to entertain the idea of it in my own head, not because of its supposed impossibility, but because of the consequences of that scenario.
By "consequences" I don't only mean policy. Yes, Obama losing would mean John McCain as president (awful), an extension of 4 more years of Bush policies (even more awful), and perhaps a war with Iran (beyond awful and into straight-up apocalyptic territory).
But the consequence that would be as horrendous if not more so would be the psychological damage. Obama losing would tear the hearts out of millions of people who had been trained by our media and political Establishment to be cynical - and who opted to put aside that cynicism for a moment and believe that politics, government and elections matter. If that happens, we'll never be able to address or solve any of the impending crises we now face.
If Obama loses, I fear people will go back into their shell of cynicism, perhaps never to come out again in a fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me kind of way. Lots of people feel their youthful idealism of the past was silly after having learned how politics works. But this time around, they have put aside that understandable cynicism and have decided to believe again - but if Obama loses, they will feel fooled a second time, potentially sowing that cynicism for good.
Full article here.
Thanks Jacob.
"I got chills.
They're multiplyin'.
And I'm losin' control.
'Cause the power
you're suplyin',
it's electrifyin'!"
