Dr. Fraser- Point of View
February 1, 2013

Obama’s Second Inaugural Address

  • Continued from last week
Last week I started looking at Obama’s speech delivered at his second inauguration. I am mindful of America’s impact on the global economy and of the fact that whenever that country sneezes, we catch a cold. Our people who live in America make a significant contribution to our country, so that what takes part in that area of the world has to be of concern to us. {{more}}As I stated last week, I was quite impressed with his speech which struck the right note and seems to be a signal to move the country in a different direction.

America has never fully lived up to the promises that attracted millions of migrants to its shores and to the ideals expressed in its constitution for blacks and other minorities. I am, however, very cautious because any effort in this direction will bring down the forces that have for so long dominated the society. Even within his own party, there will be those who will not go along, whether on immigration, gun control or on a host of other matters.

Obama was, however, appealing to the coalition of blacks, immigrants, women, gays, young people and professionals who were responsible for his overwhelming victory. He has started to address the key issues of gun control and immigration, and realising that there will be a battle along the road, is attempting to mobilise the forces that had been responsible for his electoral victory.
 
He has also begun to address other issues that surfaced during his last campaign. The matter of inequality and the gap between what some refer to as the two per cent and the rest is one that will not be settled easily and now, but it has to be kept on the front burner. He made it known that the patriots of the American Revolution did not fight only to replace the king with the privileges of a few.
 
The country, he suggests, cannot succeed while a ‘shrinking few’ do well and with the majority being barely able to make it. Furthermore, he states, America will not live up to its stated creed until the poorest child has the same opportunity as anyone else. This, of course, is a tall order, for to succeed here is to go against what the country has long stood for.

I was glad that he got into the debate about the free market vs the place of government. He makes the fundamental point that the free market can only thrive when rules are in place to ensure competition and fair play. This is fundamentally opposed by those who argue for more deregulation and smaller government.
 
He spells out the role of government in protecting the vulnerable and protecting them from ‘life’s hazards and misfortunes.’ But he has to be a realist and so he tries to assure those lined up on the other side of the argument that he recognises that government cannot cure the country’s ills by itself, nor is he prepared to discard the prevailing scepticism against any overreach by government.But one has to understand the role and place of government. “No single person can train all the maths and science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future. Or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shore.”

The issue of Climate Change, whose existence many still deny, was highlighted as the President said that he was prepared to respond to the threats posed by Climate Change. One hopes that the recent hurricane in the north eastern section of the US will force the doubters to look again. Governor Christie of New Jersey and Mayor Bloomberg of New York have been signalling that they are prepared to take the issue of Climate Change very seriously.

America is still in the throes of a global economic meltdown with fears that very soon China will replace them as the globe’s economic giant. Obama is not so persuaded, once the country is able to put what is needed in place and that they accept their collective responsibility and function as one nation and one people.
 
He understands that the possibilities are boundless with the key factors that can sustain them being the vigour of the young, the diversity that exists in the society, the openness, their capacity for risk and their gift for reinvention. These are what has sustained America in the past and could propel them forward again. In doing so, they have to understand the challenges that exist and to be in the forefront of new ideas and technology. They have to again give priority to education, in an effort to reform their schools and empower their people with the skills that would enable them to reach higher heights by working harder and learning more.

He took time in different areas of his address to respond to some of the positions taken by the Republicans, particularly with regard to “Obamacare,” Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. He refuses to accept that the choice is between caring for a generation that built America and one that will propel it into the future.

Obama gives himself a tall order. To succeed will be to reverse the direction in which America has for long been moving. His strategy now is perhaps the only one that can ensure some measure of satisfaction, if not success; that is to appeal to the groups outside that had ensured his victory. It is amazing that many Americans spend their time arguing whether or not Obama is pushing the country left or left of centre. This is ridiculous. He is responding to the needs of the people who elected him and if that means moving left then let it be so. I hope he is not sabotaged by his own people in Congress in doing so.

Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian.

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