Comments on: The End Of Transition http://idtik.com/2009/01/05/the-end-of-transition/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:43:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Edward Brown http://idtik.com/2009/01/05/the-end-of-transition/#comment-51 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:34:34 +0000 http://idtik.com/?p=200#comment-51 It’s my aspiration that an Obama Administration will make some headway in creating an environment for doing business. Not business merely for entrepreneurs and corporations, but the business of accountability and responsibility for all Americans. President Obama can’t provide Americans with new jobs, new education or new ambition. He can only create the opportunity and the environment. Seizing an opportunity requires preparation. If Americans don’t become more frugal, better educated and proactive, no matter what Obama does, our situation will not improve.

It’s good that Obama has begun the process of managing expectations. Obama’s “Dire straits” dictum is a countermeasure to Bush’s “Irrational exuberance.” Actually, it’s a great strategy! Obama merely has to enhance the economic landscape by an iota to be deemed successful. One great talent Obama has demonstrated is the ability to create positive imagery. If the American people believe the country can evolve from our “micro” activity, there can be a rippling effect at the “macro” level in the long run. John McCain had it correct when he said he would create an environment where the average American could feel the “American Dream” is still a reality. Unfortunately, he didn’t sell it effectively. Obama, as salesman, can make the case and sell it.

Shakespeare’s dictum, “The fault of men lies not in our stars, but in ourselves” is an apt assessment of our condition. Our rise or fall as Americans will largely hinge on our individual initiative.

Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute
http://www.core-edge.com

]]> By: Doug http://idtik.com/2009/01/05/the-end-of-transition/#comment-50 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:54:14 +0000 http://idtik.com/?p=200#comment-50 “And outside of specific policy measures, two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, “Government’s not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government’s working for me. I feel like it’s accountable. I feel like it’s transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information, that believes in making decisions based on facts and on science as opposed to what is politically expedient.” Those are some of the intangibles that I hope people two years from now can claim.”

I think this might be one of the more crucial aspects of Obama’s plan, especially in terms of the millennial generation. For many young people including myself, living under Bush was like living in the Twilight Zone in terms of the discrepancy between reality and the statements of the Administration.

“30 Rock” did a great take on this when Jack briefly works for the Bush Administration under Matthew Broderick’s character, Cooter. The ceiling is leaking in the office, and Jack mentions it. “It’s not leaking,” Cooter replies, “We’ve looked into it, and it’s not leaking.”

If Obama uses the transparency of his transition as a model for the next four years – particularly the use of web video – I believe it will do a lot to earn voters’ trust. And the press conferences! Could we ever have dreamed comedians would be making jokes about how FREQUENT a president or president-elect took questions from the press? I tried to find the total number of Bush press conferences…I believe the last figure I saw was in the low teens, maybe 11 or 12.

I’m not expecting Detroit to look like Dubai in four years, but I will expect to know more about the activities of this administration than any other in history.

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