Obama - a carrot as well as a stick

international | miscellaneous | news report

Tuesday January 20, 2009 15:12

by J - WSM - WS 107

wsm_ireland at yahoo dot com

The election of Barrack Obama created a buzz all over the world. Some commentators even lost the run of themselves and tried to convince us that the one of the most important events in human history had just happened. People everywhere celebrated Obama’s victory in a way that they would not have done were it a new government in their own countries. This is barely surprising, if we take into account that decisions taken by the rulers in Washington DC carry a heavy load of consequences for millions of people across the five continents.

However, if this represents a “dream” come true, nobody has been able to tell us what type of a dream it is. Obama is portrayed as the quintessential representative of a supposed democratic and humanist tradition that had a brief interruption of sorts with the Bush administration. Before Bush, US imperialism, according to Obama’s supporters, seemingly did not exist or was a rather minor problem. They insist that, after Bush, the “benign” influence of the US will again impose itself globally. Unfortunately, memory is a virtue more often associated with elephants than human beings.

Those of us who suffer from a kind of insomnia of the intellect and who like staying awake do not forget the countless US aggressions against Latin American people, nor the enthusiastic support given to all kinds of Third World dictators and to structurally murderous regimes such as Israel or Colombia. Neither do we forget Vietnam or Korea.

Can the peoples of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan or Haiti expect an end to the occupation of their countries? Can we expect Obama to take some real action against Global Warming? Can the Latin American people expect the end of interventionism, in the forms of Plan Merida and Plan Colombia?

Obama does not seem to be in any rush to radically change the old order, but he does seem concerned about adding a new facade to it. Something like adding new seasoning to old soup. His declarations on Latin America or Palestine, even when he was still a candidate, give us enough reasons not to expect any significant change of policy. His choice of cabinet members does not allow for much optimism either, except by the most gullible.

But those of us tired of waiting and waiting know that imperialism will not end thanks to unselfish actions of the imperialists themselves, nor will exploitation end thanks to those who profit from it. Even if Obama was a convinced “progressive” we know that US imperialism is a well established State policy, serving the powerful elite’s interests.

Now, I don’t want to insinuate that the arrival of Obama in the White House does not represent a new scenario, or even that there aren’t chances of winning some improvements because of the high expectations caused by Obamania. But there’s a big gap between acknowledging this objective fact and seeing in Obama some sort of hero for “progressive” causes.

Quite contrary to those who expect liberation to come from the White House, Obama has turned to out be the Yankee ruling class’s best chance to restore their lost dominance. Imperialism will adopt a friendly face and will swing the carrot a little bit more than the stick.

The magic of Obama is that he renewed illusions in a worn-out model in crisis that loses credibility on a daily basis. We will soon see how little will change under the new administration, even if some clueless people want us to believe that what happened in the US was just slightly short of a socialist revolution.

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Comments (15 of 15)

Obama is a complete breath of fresh air after the disastrous Bush era.

by Phil

Wed Jan 21, 2009 13:59

Obama will bring the war on terror and the Iraq war to an end, a war that Bush started.
Al-Qaeda only attacked America because Bush was elected.
The Palestinians and Israelis have been fighting each other since Bush came into power.
Obama will bring peace to the whole world.
During the Bush era the US economy was not fair and that is why the credit crunch happened.
Now that Obama is President, the economy will improve.
Hurricane Katrina happened because Bush threw away the Kyoto agreement.
Obama is going to stop climate change and save the earth from destruction.

Superman

by Pat Ohara

Wed Jan 21, 2009 14:08

That's not Obama.

That is Superman you are referring to Phil.

O.T.T.

Expectations should be realistic.

Phil - give your head a shake

by yyzdub

Wed Jan 21, 2009 18:46

Obama will bring the war on terror and the Iraq war to an end, a war that Bush started.
Let's hope so.

Al-Qaeda only attacked America because Bush was elected.
Are you serious??? because Bush was elected?

The Palestinians and Israelis have been fighting each other since Bush came into power.
Hmmm.... unless Bush was in power as far back as the 19th century, then you've got some reading to do!

Obama will bring peace to the whole world.
Lofty expectation... peace to the whole world? Guess he must be God.

During the Bush era the US economy was not fair and that is why the credit crunch happened.
Yes, Wall Street greed and irresponsibility must have been because Bush created an unfair economy, triggering a credit crunch.

Now that Obama is President, the economy will improve.
Interesting... how so?

Hurricane Katrina happened because Bush threw away the Kyoto agreement.
Threw it away? What does the Kyoto Agreement have to do with Hurricane Katrina?

Obama is going to stop climate change and save the earth from destruction.
And while he's at it, he'll probably be crucified and rise again, possibly part waters, and turn blood into wine.

Phil - get a grip on your expectations and your thoughts. Do some research. I am by no means an advocate of the Bush administration - there time in office created problems that will last far beyond Obama's terms but give your head a shake and read what you've written.

educate yourself

by Obama's Skeptical Supporter

Wed Jan 21, 2009 20:50

If, and only if Obama reverses this situation ,will a number of us have any belief that Obama will change a thing.

Congress passes the laws - the president signs them into law or vetos them

After all, he was 'put' there or allowed to be there by the regime that will always be there behind the scene.

Obama was elected by a majority of voters.

"Obama was elected by a majority of voters."

by Bartley

Wed Jan 21, 2009 21:03

So what?

That does not mean he can do whatever he likes - simply because he got a majority of votes.

For example, he took an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States, which means he has to operate within the limits of the constitution -- assuming he honours his oath of course.

re: So what?

Wed Jan 21, 2009 21:25

So what?

Well it matters to the majority of US voters - maybe not you.

the implication of the above comment was that Obama was chosen by some mysterious unnamed cabal.

He's been in power for less than 48 hours and one shouldn't assume what he will do and wont do, yet.

By all means pressure him to do the right things, but but don't make ignorant assumptions.

A Man of Peace

by Bazooka Joe

Wed Jan 21, 2009 23:05

Praise the Lord Phil, Obama has risen from the sea of politics and he has come among us. And the people of the Earth adore him and worship him saying, " Who compares unto him" and "He will bring peace unto the Earth".

But verily he leads only with deception and NLP. He broadcasts the closing of Guantanamo as his own first decision, when it was decided years ago but the last great beast (Bush) feared the embarassment of admitting he had imprisoned with wrongfullyness those who with his solemn word he sworeth were evildoers.

Get real! Obama is the tool of George Soros and the Elite. He has for his advisors the worst of the Zionists and he will bring only more war death and misery. The American people and half the world have bought into his well delivered Hypnotic pacing. They talk of 'Hope' like lost sheep bleeting for their shepherd. Real hope is based on actual plans and preparations. If I make preparations for an event I may hope it will work out but if, like America, I base my 'Hope' on nothing, then failure is the certain outcome.

His fanatics should realise that indeed it has, "been given unto him a mouth speaking great things" but that is just him talking the talk.

A man of Peace? You poor deluded fool.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu-cp3EBhrI&feature=related

The US had been moving to the right for the last 40 years

by Greg

Thu Jan 22, 2009 16:59

I'm not all that hopeful considering the recent awful events in Gaza, and the almost unanimous support by US politicians for Isreal for one thing, but as some left-liberal yank said on election night 'The US has been moving to the right for the last 40 years'. People need some hope, it's not all about the one man Obama, but the aspirations of millions of people fed up with that incessant drift to the neo-con mess the world finds itself in now, so for that reason perhaps it might prove to be some kind of landmark event.

The most pressing problem for the USA and the rest of the world

by Gail

Thu Jan 22, 2009 19:23

Allowing for the worsening global financial crisis, I wonder when (if ever) President Obama intends to deal responsibly with the long running "biggest fraud in human history"? -- The United States Federal Reserve Act of 1913.

"The Federal Reserve Act was unconstitutional, felonious, and treasonous ..."

-- see at http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&fkt=&fsdt=5437&q=Fed...f&oq=

Unless this extremely bad problem is successfully tackled, little else matters in world politics.

Obamarama

by CFEC

Thu Jan 22, 2009 20:38

Obama will do all these things before breakfast :

1) End World hunger,
2) Find a cure for every known disease,
3) Achieve world peace,
4) Take his rightful place in heaven as Messiah,
5) Challenge Chuck Norris to a fight to the death,
6) Fatally wound Chuck Norris with one carefully planned blow,
7) Impress the world with his Levitation abilities,
8) Die.
9) Ressurect Himself.

"$50 Billion Madoff Swindle is Miniscule Compared to Federal Reserve's Ponzi Scheme"

by Oisín

Fri Jan 23, 2009 08:38

While I would fully agree that the new United States President (Barack Obama) has to be allowed time to settle into his new job, and that he cannot sensibly be expected to perform miracles overnight, I also hope that the very worrying "Money Masters" business (closely linked The United States Federal Reserve Act of 1913) will be high on his list of priorities: ideally right up at the very top (in my view).

"Consider this: The Fed has created over $7.7 trillion in new money in order to bail out all sorts of incompetent (but wealthy) individuals and companies. In effect, it's using new money to cover the losses of existing stakeholders, and as the system is nearing collapse, the only way it can keep the whole scam running is to create even more new money and thrust it in to the same money hole." (From http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000613_Ponzi_scheme_Wal....html )

-- "new money" (created "out of thin air"), which will then be borrowed by hard-pressed governments around the world who have to agree to pay compound interest charges to the "Money Masters", and who further have to agree to saddle their taxpayers with the crippling repayment of the combined debts in question (capital plus interest): debts which are designed to be impossible to ever pay off - as many in the United States of America are already well aware of.

Related Link: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Federal+Reserve+Sw...earch

President Obama's new web site

by Raymond

Sat Jan 24, 2009 19:11

"We'll launch an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government, and every American will be able to see how and where we spend taxpayer dollars by going to a new website called http://www.recovery.gov/ "

So far there is nothing to suggest accountability regarding the matter of where the money is coming from though, or what the costs will be -- and the same is true for own Government of course.

It will be very interesting to see if President Obama cuts out the "unnecessary spending" connected with the Federal Reserve System, which is illegal and entirely a function of corruption on a truly massive scale.

If he fails to break the Federal Reserve "System" he cannot possibly succeed, and will in fact make things far worse.

Borrowing money from the Federal Reserve is like trying to put out a fire by pouring petrol over it.

'The politics of bollocks' - Pilger

by Miriam

Thu Feb 05, 2009 15:26

Obama bollocks:

http://www.newstatesman.com/north-america/2009/02/obama...-gaza

haha

by Cian

Thu Apr 23, 2009 23:58

Phil thats some funny stuff. Will Obama bring us the rapture though? ;)
There's a really funny NBC sketch called "The Rock Obama" - but you need to use a US proxy to view it:

Two Reasons.

by African-Irish

Fri Apr 24, 2009 08:47

There are TWO simple reasons why Obama was welcomed with open arms around the world:

Firstly, and most importantly, he is NOT George W. Bush.

ANYBODY would be welcomed after Bush.

Secondly,he is a stunning orator,he really can inspire a crowd.

(Compare his speaking style to that of Brian Cowen or Gordon Brown in Britain and you get my drift.)

I don't think his colour had much to do with it Worldwide, but he sure made African Americans feel that their struggle against prejudice may be ending at last.

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Obama - a carrot as well as a stick

Comments (15 of 15)