Most Americans remember the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again.” So it is with the Obama administration.
What may have been a promising administration for the United States in the early twenty-first century, like Humpty Dumpty, has taken a great fall. A fall in domestic policy, foreign policy, and maintaining America’s place of power and leadership in the world.
It is obvious that the domestic initiative known as Obama Care is a failure. Even though it is now the law of the land, it appears that the law will be significantly changed or actually repealed. Let us remember that prohibition was also a social experiment which did not work. Nor was it workable for the American people. The underlying tenets of Obama Care, redistribution of wealth and government operated health care is antithetical to American values. Even with sociological and demographic changes which have taken place in this country, such intrusive government programs will not and cannot serve American citizens well. The current administration has accomplished little through the legislative process and has resorted to the heightened use of federal regulations to affect industries from farming to energy production, among others. The private sector appears to be making economic progress in spite of the heavier regulatory atmosphere flowing from Washington. A tribute to a free market economy even when under attack from the highest levels of government.
The crumbling of the current administration is not limited to domestic policy.Foreign policy is a disaster. Leading from behind is a failure. The line drawn in the sand in dealing with Syria is a sham and the treaty executed to calm this situation is failing. The answers concerning the tragic events in Benghazi are still allusive and murky. The reset the administration attempted to initiate with Russia is a failure. Just recently, an Al-Qaeda group seized the western Iraqi city of Fallujah, in the Anbar province, the area of Iraq, where some of the most devastating battles and American deaths took place before American forces left Iraq two years ago. Al-Qaeda is not decimated, no longer on the run, but very active, and as deadly as ever. Did the administration make the correct calculations in Iraq and Afghanistan? Especially, as Iraq is so close to Syria. Does the Obama administration have a coherent and coordinated policy in the Middle East? Or, is the foreign policy of the administration crumbling?
At home, the administration brings back to its inner circle advisors, from the campaign days, such as John Podesta. Perhaps all “the king’s men can put Humpty Dumpty back together. Doubtful. The fall from the wall has been a long and disastrous one for President Obama. There are growing rumblings from his own party about the damage which has been done. And, then there is the 2014 congressional elections looming. Control of the United States Senate, by the Democrats, looks precarious.
Like many parts of our infrastructure, which is crumbling in many places, and in many ways, our national leadership is crumbling as did Humpty Dumpty after his fall. Starting with the White House and rumbling through the Congress, decisions get put off, legislation passed in haste, and civil discourse appears to be a thing of the past.
As the end of the current administration begins to appear in the rapidly closing distance, more and more cabinet officials and administration political appointees will be leaving government. The king’s men will be leaving Humpty Dumpty, broken at the bottom of the wall.
Humpty Dumpty an old nursery rhyme perhaps turned into a modern nightmare. All before our very eyes.
William Burton says
Editor,
It is always sad to see lofty ideals dashed in the cruel world of reality.
While I am not and have never been an Obama supporter, I had high hopes for what he could bring to strengthen our nation.Perhaps the biggest disappointment for me was his failure to try to narrow the divide between the white and black realities of American life. He chose to take the low road and attempt to exacerbate the divisions; this was nowhere more clearly seen than in his needlessly divisive comments on the decisions legitimately meted by the Justice system in the case of Travyon Martin.While there can be disagreement over whether the right decision had been made, it was unseemly for the statements and actions of our President to attempt to de-legitimize the decision.
The unfortunate demise of Nelson Mandela provided stark contrast to the actions of President Obama. Mandela chose to unify and strengthen his country despite an abundance of legitimate grievances for which he could have chosen to seek retribution.
I will always regard Obama as a leader of great potential who was too small and petty to achieve his potential place in history as a unifying force in American life. Wasted opportunities are truly one of life’s saddest events.
Robert O. Hall (BobHallsr) says
Editor,
Let’s add the frightening fact that the White House and its administration is in the process of converting our important friends and much needed supporters, in the Middle East, to enemies, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and Egypt, as well as, losing the confidence of our allies in Europe. And, our leadership is currently building a wall between the US and South America. What’s next, becoming “persona non grata in Canada?
Life is Good (sometimes)
The Affable Curmudgeon
BobHallsr
Kathi Donegan says
Editor,
The Boy Who Cried Wolf, I am sure all of you remember the story And so it is with Mr. Fletcher and his doomsday talk once again.
The Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) is not a ‘failure’. While it had an inexcusably rocky start with the website roll out, it is in fact a huge boon to every American across the country.
• You may have already enjoyed the peace of mind of having your insurance extended under your parent’s plan until you are 26.
• Rest easier knowing that a major medical event will not wipe out your savings since the cap on families now lies around the $12,000 a year mark.
And, according to the American Heart Association…In fact, 62% of allall bankruptcies filed in 2007 were due in part to medical expenses, and cardiovascular disease was one of the top reasons cited by families for medical bankruptcy. Notably, nearly 80% of those who filed medical bankruptcies had insurance.
Affordable healthcare is not a redistribution of wealth.It is making sure that your neighbors, friends and loved ones can actually afford to go the doctor. To buy medicine. A friend of mine had to literally make that choice 2 years ago – electric bill or medication.
Moving on though, the Republicans have, in print and on air, said again and again that their ‘job’ is to stop the Obama administration from working. And then how interesting that they turn right around and blame the administration for not getting anything done. I always thought their job was to serve their constituency. Now we have a government that is only concerned with how it works for their paymasters – the lobbyists. Of which, Mr. Fletcher was one. Perhaps still is.
The Middle East? Please, if you have any words of wisdom or magic solutions I suggest you alert the rest of us. That part of the world has been in turmoil for generations. Blaming President Obama for not quieting their restless and to us, incomprehensible hearts is not helpful. Former President Bush got us in and now you blame the next administration for trying to get us out. Benghazi was a terrible day for all of us, but for the GOP to keep bringing it up – and without any new information – borders on rumor mongering.
At the end of the day, President Obama has taken this country from an inherited Great Recession (Bush) and then the edge of the abyss (You do remember the fiscal cliff, right?) to a place where Americans can grow and heal. And the stock market has fully recovered as well. This constant barrage serves no purpose – there is no wolf in the White House.