CapitalistMarks

Hope!

Posted on 20. Jan, 2009 by scott in economic daydreaming, political munglings

Today was indeed historic.? Imagine the President of our United States is a man whose father was born in Kenya and his wife’s great-grandfather was a slave.? Incredibly President Obama was born to a Muslim father, and yet he is a devout Christian.? This fine (further accolades must be held in abeyance for at least 2 or 3 more years) man was a good attorney who gravitated to helping the oppressed and poor.? Just a few years ago he was a virtual unknown.? He has two wonderfully normal daughters and a wife with professional and personal credentials?to shame nearly every other first lady in recent memory.? That alone should keep him grounded . . . a really good thing.?

But, ‘wait-if you believe right now you get this one time only, act in the next twenty minutes bonus’:? I’ve seen pictures of this President donating time to help the poor, shopping for?groceries, playing basketball (THE manly sport), walking on the?beach, and smiling –?wow what a smile!? Send in you?order now.??A double order, biggie sized, of HOPE!

I expect significant changes in the Whitehouse, and the?Executive branch of our goverrnment in general.??I know he wants to affect real worthwhile change in Washington and?I hope he can (like finding a way to limit ALL other elected officials to?a few terms . . . a common theme you will hear from me).?

Sadly the prior administration?has left the President with problems and realities that will make? his job?very difficult.? Theformer guys?managed to trash any HOPE.??? The realities of our?economy will limit his capacity to provide government assistance to?the needy (financially, economically, healthally, educationally, combatally, politically?. . . .).

Oh boy, does he have a challenge ahead.? But, there is HOPE.

Hey, people in Kenya celebrated, Arabs and Muslims?are excited that he?likely understands their?beliefs and?HOPE ?more than any previous President.??Europeans danced in the street, and generally everyone?I know or have seen on?TV has HOPE as a result of his election.? They want and expect a different and better America than they have seen for 8 seemingly long, dark years.

Sure, the market?(stock not vegetables) crashed today.? However, CNBC informed us, thank heavens, that the market?declines 72% of the time on?inaguration days.? Truthfully the market probably won’t get the Obama?bounce that so many expected.? Nothing happens?( predictably) when our?incredibly unpopular Congress gets involved.? That means that the President’s plan for economic stimulus and change in government will not be approved soon.?

Think about it.? The market (here?I speak of the millions who buy and sell securities and bonds) can’t react positively until there is good news and an improvement in the two things that the government HAS to focus on (I started?pleading for this in?August to the students in?a college macro economics class?I taught . . . so?I am not coming to this party late, and I am?certain others have recognized this too), and that is lowering unemployment, and improving?consumer (say citizen here) confidence.? Just those two things.? Nothing else extraneous, just those two things.? Focus on them, Mr.??President, honored (boy that is hard to write) Congress — and then you will give the rest of us real HOPE.

While many are expectant, and even more are HOPEful we have to be realistic.? It will take many weeks, perhaps months,?for the President to get his advisors and administrators approved by Congres and put to work.? The sooner the better, but don’t expect Congress?to be intelligent?about it (they are too dang politicized and concerned about their high-paying,?live and retire on easy-street jobs to?do that).?

So, reality is that change (if it comes) will take time?(and sadly lots of it).?

That leaves us with only one thing:? HOPE!? hope doesn’t float . . . it has to be paddles to stay afloat.? Give us a paddle Congress.

Don’t let go of it.? The more of us that share HOPE, the more our leaders will start to realize their?jobs might just?be dependent upon?reviving our?HOPE.? Holy mackeral, that would be something., wouldn’t it??

So HOPE.

And pass along HOPE.

And don’t give up your HOPE.

Spread the word.

HOPE!?

?

thanks to jurvetson for the picture from flikr

Tags: economy, hope, obama