Obama Speech: Old News Is Sold More Aggressively

A speech does not create a new economic program; nor do two, five or 10. If one believes that Barack Obama, who made public appearances in Illinois and Missouri on Wednesday this week, would set light to a series of previously unknown ideas and visions with his new selection of speeches, they would be bitterly disappointed.

The president is currently touring the United States giving speeches on the same topics that he has been discussing for years now — namely, stimulation of the economy and how to improve America’s global competitiveness. The only difference is that he now sounds a little more aggressive and more impatient than before.

Obama has been unable to issue any new economic program whatsoever. Any attempt to do so has immediately been put to a stop by the conservative majority in the House of Representatives. The reason for this is that many Republicans still have only one aim: They want Obama to come unstuck. They want him to fail wherever possible, no matter how high the political price.

Unhappy Citizens

Despite this, the president is concerned with something entirely different. Although unemployment is decreasing, the housing market is improving again and the health care reform is showing the first signs of success, the majority of U.S. citizens still do not trust these results. Currently, 60 percent still believe that progress is far too slow.

From a very critical point of view, Obama has set out on this tour because he wants to win over the opinion leaders on the subject of the economy. He would like to convince Americans once more that his ideas are right, because a much greater and older battle is just around the corner: In the fall, Congress will reconvene to vote on the increase in the national debt ceiling and the budget for all current government business.

Obstruction from Republicans

The Republicans want to prevent these changes to the budget. Their mantra is: as little state control and as few expenses as possible. They want to reduce the budget drastically, firstly where it hurts Obama and his Democrats the most: in education, conservation of the environment, the health care system and welfare programs.

This radical action would ruin everything that Obama stands for and would destroy the essence of his political program. What the president needs is a state that is active and well-equipped with sufficient funds. He believes this [kind of state] to be an essential support rather than a pariah. According to the Obama philosophy, the government needs a boost in order for America to remain competitive and for no one to be taken down in the process. Therefore, the president is calling for large investments in infrastructure, advanced technologies and energy, in schools and universities, in vocational training and the health care system.

Irritation with the Government

At the moment, Obama is not achieving good results; only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with his leadership. Congress and the Republicans, however, are faring much worse, as their tenacious behavior annoys many Americans. Whether it’s to do with a stricter arms law or a comprehensive immigration reform, a governmental investment or a revival of the health care system, the reply from the Republicans is always no.

Shared authority is at the heart of democracy. However, the ability to lead in this system only works when the resistance to new ideas is not too high and compromises are still possible. In order to make that clear, Obama’s speech marathon might just be worth it.