This joke arose during the days of Barack Obama’s inauguration as U.S. President: “What will Obama do once he has been sworn in? In the first six days, he will solve the problems in America and around the world. On the seventh day, he will rest.” Obama, the divine, faith healer-–the joke only touches the surface of what is actually there: unrealistic expectations and exorbitant hopes. Although the first weeks in office, the first setbacks, mistakes and disappointments of the Obama era should have shown even the most exuberant fan that Obama is only human, too.
Of course the prolonged enthusiasm is understandable. The spirit of optimism that Obama initiated has gone around the world; his message of hope and a fresh start, his own ascent has inspired and encouraged millions. He walked onto the political stage at a time when the public had been waiting so long for a hero, a savior. Obama encourages, and that is a good thing.
But sometimes global tears of happiness blur the clear view. Obama is going about it energetically, so much is true. But more and more from day to day, he is faced with gigantic problems. His vision of a new, more just America is fading into the distance; his room for maneuvering is more restricted than he expected and it is narrowing itself down even more. The fresh start is being overshadowed by the monstrous economic crisis.
The crisis shows that even the most powerful man in the world cannot simply arrange the course of events in his interests and that that is why messianic expectations of healing, which are being projected onto a politician, are so dangerous. The U.S. president himself is often only a game ball of history, more so one who is being driven instead of one who is driving. Obama started as a visionary and a reformer; but now he is a crisis manager in a national state of emergency.
There is one very practical reason why the crisis is bringing Obama distress: it is forcing him to hand out money that isn’t even there and to bet like a gambler on a rapid economic recovery. The gigantic stimulus package, which Obama is pushing through the official channels with all his might, does not correspond to his political beliefs or to the financial possibilities of the debt-ridden USA. It is a desperate rescue attempt. Obama is also using exactly those financial possibilities, which he needs for other large reform projects. Even if the bill works out and the economy starts up again, the new debts will overshadow the Obama presidency.
Is the stimulus package right? Does Obama stand the test as crisis manager? How much do the mishaps outweigh the appointment of his minister? Much of this will first become apparent in retrospect as good or bad. In the meantime, Obama deserves a sober escort. But for a veneration of saints and blind approval, there should also be no room in politics to follow a politician’s doings with sympathy.
Aus den Tagen vor Barack Obamas Amtseinführung als US-Präsident stammt dieser Witz: "Was macht Obama, wenn er den Amtseid abgelegt hat? In den ersten sechs Tagen löst er die Probleme Amerikas und der Welt. Am siebten Tage aber wird er ruhen." Obama, der Göttliche, der Wunderheiler - der Witz treibt nur auf die Spitze, was es tatsächlich gibt: Unrealistische Erwartungen und maßlose Hoffnungen. Dabei sollten die ersten Wochen im Amt, die ersten Rückschläge, Fehler und Enttäuschungen der Ära Obama selbst dem überschwänglichsten Fan gezeigt haben, dass Obama auch nur ein Mensch ist.
Natürlich ist die anhaltende Begeisterung verständlich. Die Aufbruchstimmung, die Obama ausgelöst hat, ist um die Welt gegangen; seine Botschaft von Hoffnung und Neuanfang, sein eigener Aufstieg haben Millionen ermutigt und inspiriert. Er hat die politische Weltbühne betreten, als das Publikum so sehr auf einen Helden, einen Retter gewartet hat. Obama macht Mut, und das ist gut so.
Manchmal aber trüben die globalen Freudentränen den klaren Blick. Obama geht energisch zu Werke, das ist wahr. Aber er steht, von Tag zu Tag mehr, vor gigantischen Problemen. Seine Vision von einem neuen, gerechteren Amerika rückt in weite Ferne; seine Handlungsspielräume sind enger, als er erwartet hatte, und sie verengen sich weiter. Der Neuanfang wird überschattet von der monströsen Wirtschaftskrise.
Die Krise zeigt, dass auch der mächtigste Mann der Welt den Gang der Dinge nicht einfach in seinem Sinne gestalten kann und messianische Heilserwartungen, die man auf einen Politiker projiziert, schon deshalb gefährlich sind. Der US-Präsident ist selbst oft nur ein Spielball der Geschichte, ein Getriebener viel mehr als ein Antreiber. Obama ist als Visionär und Reformer gestartet; jetzt ist er Krisenmanager in einer nationalen Notlage.
Die Krise bringt Obama auch aus einem ganz praktischen Grund in Bedrängnis: Sie zwingt ihn, Geld auszugeben, das es gar nicht gibt, und glücksspielartig auf eine schnelle Erholung der Wirtschaft zu wetten. Das gigantische Konjunkturpaket, das Obama mit aller Kraft durch die Instanzen drückt, entspricht weder seinen politischen Überzeugungen noch den finanziellen Möglichkeiten der hoch verschuldeten USA. Es ist ein verzweifelter Rettungsversuch. Obama nimmt sich auch genau die finanziellen Möglichkeiten, die er für andere große Reformprojekte braucht. Selbst wenn die Rechnung aufgeht und die Wirtschaft wieder anspringt, werden die neuen Schulden die Obama-Präsidentschaft überschatten.
Ist das Konjunkturpaket richtig? Bewährt sich Obama als Krisenmanager? Wie schwer wiegen die Pannen bei der Berufung seiner Minister? Vieles wird sich erst im Rückblick als gut oder schlecht herausstellen. Obama verdient einstweilen eine nüchterne Begleitung. Für Heiligenverehrung und blinde Zustimmung aber sollte in der Politik auch dann kein Platz sein, wenn man das Wirken eines Politikers mit Sympathie verfolgt.
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huge debt for military war and spy machine that continues and may increase. american now spends more on its war machine than all other industrialized nations.
privitized health care that is bankrupting many americans. dr’s getting rich mega rich and insurance companies but it is destroying the wealth of the middle class.
the deregulation of american corporations which has created corp fascism in america.
ok four main reasons: a wash that no longer represents the people but its lobbyists. corp fascism is alive and well in america.
obama sold americans hope and it got him elected but it is we americans that must change.
greed and arrogance change only as a last resort first we will try some hope and see how far that takes us.
america is in a rapid decline and few in the world understand that especially we americans.
we are trying to spend more than we make to fix a problem that was caused by spending more than we make. like throwing gasoline on a fire to put it out.
econmics 101 should have taught us that but our econ phd’s must have skipped econ 101 and instead went for their far fetched theorys that win them awards and get them published and give them tenure at the university.
very interesting article.
but you left one thing out.
this great debt was caused by three main factors.
huge debt for military war and spy machine that continues and may increase. american now spends more on its war machine than all other industrialized nations.
privitized health care that is bankrupting many americans. dr’s getting rich mega rich and insurance companies but it is destroying the wealth of the middle class.
the deregulation of american corporations which has created corp fascism in america.
ok four main reasons: a wash that no longer represents the people but its lobbyists. corp fascism is alive and well in america.
obama sold americans hope and it got him elected but it is we americans that must change.
greed and arrogance change only as a last resort first we will try some hope and see how far that takes us.
america is in a rapid decline and few in the world understand that especially we americans.
we are trying to spend more than we make to fix a problem that was caused by spending more than we make. like throwing gasoline on a fire to put it out.
econmics 101 should have taught us that but our econ phd’s must have skipped econ 101 and instead went for their far fetched theorys that win them awards and get them published and give them tenure at the university.