Excellent read on Obama's theory of politics and government.

[Hamlette]

This guy makes the argument that in Obama's last four speeches, (and some bits from earlier ones) he has set forth his philosophy about politics and the country. From his speeches:

"But today, we are affirming that essential truth -– a truth every generation is called to rediscover for itself –- that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. (Applause.) We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don't fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what's easy. That's not who we are. That's not how we got here.

History is made when men and women decide that there is a greater risk in accepting a situation that we cannot bear than in steeling our spine and embracing the promise of change. That's when history is made.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

What this generation has proven today is that we still have the power to shape history. (Applause.) In the United States of America, it is still a necessary faith that our destiny is written by us, not for us. Our future is what we make it. Our future is what we make it.

We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America."



This is, really, a very strong claim. What Obama is saying here is that politics, rightly understood, is the very core of what makes this nation a nation. Not individualism, not religiosity, and certainly not ethnicity or the land itself, but politics. It's a view of the United States that looks not to underlying social conditions (as Lowry and Ponnuru do in their recent essay), but to its founding in political action, in the Revolution and then the framing of the Constitution. Of course, the fact of the Revolution and the Constitution can be seen as a consequence of its underlying conditions -- but Obama here, at least, rejects that point of view. We, in the United States, do not accept history, or live through history -- we have the capacity, Obama (and Biden) say, to make history, through collective action, whether it is in the Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War, the civil rights revolution, or now, in tackling the challenges that face us in the 21st century. America, therefore, is self-created, and continues to be self-creating, by political action.

http://plainblogaboutpolitics.blogspot.com/2010/03/history-is-made.html
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We were right to fight tooth and nail to elect this man. He speaks to my heart, and why I love politics. Our destiny is written BY us, not FOR us (might this not be what separates dems from republicans?). As the article says: "Politics, then, for Obama -- at least some of the time, or at least potentially -- is an active, positive, experience of making collective choices that organize our lives."

The Tea Party people are wrong. You can't "get government out of your life". Politics is about deciding how we organize our lives.

It's all good.

[FrenchieCat]

1. The comments on that Blog after reading the article

are quite good reading as well.

Thanks for sharing!

[DFLforever]

2. Thanks for posting.

Interesting article as are the comments that follow.

[Lindsey]

3. Yes, very interesting... n/t

[CBR]

4. Great article. Thanks. nt

[NJmaverick]

5. Did you post this on GD? This great article should be available to all

[Hamlette]

7. I just did, at your suggestion, thanks. n/t

[Cha]

6. I know we were right to

fight so hard for Barack Obama..who believes in "Smart Government".

The Coffee Party believes we are here to work with our government..

It sounds like something I would be interested..in addition to OFA~:patriot::patriot:
http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/

"MISSION STATEMENT"

"COFFEE PARTY MISSION STATEMENT: The Coffee Party Movement gives voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government. We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges that we face as Americans. As voters and grassroots volunteers, we will support leaders who work toward positive solutions, and hold accountable those who obstruct them."

"... we have the capacity, Obama (and Biden) say, to make history, through collective action, whether it is in the Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War, the civil rights revolution, or now, in tackling the challenges that face us in the 21st century. America, therefore, is self-created, and continues to be self-creating, by political action.

[Clio the Leo]

8. I think he needs to use that Lincoln quote more often....

The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities.

He mentioned it the other day, and has mentioned it before, but not often enough IMO.

I mean, how can they argue with Lincoln?

Of course if he cites that quote from Lincoln enough, eventually, one of the teabagger fruitcakes will say they dont want to HEAR anymore of "that commie pig Lincoln and, anyway, why doesn't Obama ever quote a good REPUBLICAN President!" :)

[Cha]

9. Some have already said..they don't want

anything from the government even though they're already doing..just not aware, so much.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x20087