The State Of The Union – Democracy Is Hard
January 29, 2010 by Brian Jenkins
Filed under Be Risen, Featured
The President said a lot last night, and while many people will focus on the politics of it, I sort of looked at the human element. I am on my movie kick right now, so when he said that “democracy of over 300 million people is not easy,” I immediately called it his ‘The American President” moment. Who remembers the movie where President Andrew Shepard was being attacked the whole movie, then holds a surprise press conference in front of the White House press corps?
“America isn’t easy” President Shepard said in the movie. “America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, ’cause it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say “You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can’t just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest.”
That’s America ain’t it? While President Obama came in with an advanced agenda, he has been fought by an opposing party that has refused to work because politically it makes sense for them. But, this is the America we want, isn’t it? The American people voted President Obama in partially because of the powers of the presidency that were elevated by the previous President.
What we are now seeing is democracy at work, and we the people, and the Congress that we have chosen to elect into office do not know how to react to it. This is the balance of powers that is the foundation of our government, but it hadn’t been seen in my recent memory. Congress is supposed to discuss issues; they are in fact called the Legislative Branch of the government. What Congress has forgotten though is how to pass a law when given back the responsibilities that are rightfully theirs. The President occupies the Executive branch of government. He is rightfully supposed to use his executive powers to delegate responsibilities, and expect those responsibilities to be met so that he can sign a bill from Congress to become law.
That’s just how democracy works, and it is what we the people have been asking for. We the people. The same people who vote these Congressional leaders into office, and the same people whose responsibilities do not end at the ballot box. Nobody in power can be in power without being checked. That is why we have a system of checks and balances. So, we the people have to continue to make sure that Congressional leaders know what we want, and do not ever feel that it is good politics to just say no (Republicans), or ask for personal favors (Democrats). Our role is to continue to write, email, or get in the face of our Congress people to let them know we will not vote for them without immediate action.
During the State of the Union, the president urged Congress to overcome the bitter partisan infighting that has paralyzed the Capitol to pass bills the public deserves. President Obama said, “I campaigned on the promise of change, change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change, or at least, that I can deliver it. But remember this; I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone.”
Democracy is for and by the people. But, if the people are weak, then the Congress is weak. If the Congress is weak, then the President is weak. If the President is weak then the Nation is weak. If the Nation is weak, then we all fail, and in turn blame the President. The President last night concluded his State of the Union by saying that “We don’t quit! I don’t quit!” Well, I would suggest that that we hold our President to that, and hold our congress people accountable.
- Brian Jenkins
Twitter: @Brian_Jenkins
Great post Brian, you are so right with this one. I’m comfortable with the effort that the President is givin in trying to keep the promises he made during the election. I hope that the parties can come together to pass these bills but I also hope that they carefully scrutinize them so that we don’t end up passing bills that will hurt our people.
Political parties and the perfect being the enemy of the good is gettin in the way of the good of the people right now.
I don’t think that we will ever achieve a true balance of power. Also, congressional leaders are so busy working their agenda, which keeps them from operating for the good of the entire nation. President Obama took office during extremely tough times, and will have to lead the country out of a very devestating economic downturn which has affected all of us. That makes it difficult for us to even hear his platform, because unless it changes our personal circumstances, we aren’t willing to acknowledge or believe in CHANGE THAT DOESN’T YEILD IMMEDIATE RESULTS…..I say, tough times, call for tough people and I think he’s making tough choices that are going to lead us in the right direction. With that said, although I try not to be distracted by my needs, it’s only human for me and others to judge his success or failure, on how it affect my bottom line…………..
Change is not easy and power does not yield easily. But these congressional leaders need to be held accountable. Its time to attack them on every front. Republicans are now even voting against their own bills when the President agrees with them.
We wanted change, but we didn’t want to do anything… we want to complain and blame others…of things are good for me, then the President is doing a good job if not then I get get to blame him. That unfortunately the American way.
The American way is the people’s democracy. Unfortunately we do not exercise our role in this democracy. The majority of us do not vote, and the ones that do vote overwhelmingly stop their role in the political structure at the ballot box. That is not how democracy works, and its not the American way.