The election ended and the crowds in bars and taverns where filled with joyous customers. Imbibing drink after drink and speaking merrily of the salvation from the previous party. The new President, according to the merry makers would bring new jobs, reconstruction, reestablishment of known freedoms, and bring home the troops.
The crowds spoke of how the labor would be saved by the tumultuous competition that was unfair to them. In other moments they spoke of how unfair and stupid the previous administration was for making the trade deals they had made.
As the election ended and the economy plunged into darker territory, fear gripped the nation, but the new President would have many solutions. He’d save us from our own mistakes by applying what the previous President had done to create the mistakes. Many where sure of this, and they where ready to put their money down – or more realistically to trigger those credit cards again for some purchases! For no doubt, the Federal Reserve would fix things by printing more money or making money cheap and easy. Somehow, someway, some miracle would bring us through!
The days before the inauguration brought tears to the eyes of many women, who now felt empowered to go about their business. They thought, finally, “we won’t have to listen to the other side and their sexist demeaning ramblings”. These ladies thought, “we’ll stand on our own in the world of business now with this new leader”. In fact they would.
Men stood by solemnly, wanting to move further ahead in business. Many men wanted to provide for their families, some wanting tradition, some just wanting to know that they could find a job. The new President gave them hope, not particularly because they where prepared, but because the previous President was a let down.
Millions however, still stood apathetic in the face of the media blitz.
These stories tell of what I saw, at the end of an election cycle at the end of a two term President.
Deja Vu
The strange thing is, this has happened to me twice. Once just recently, with the inauguration set. The irrational joys bring fear to me as I know how things pan out afterwards, at least according to past Presidents taking the throne of power. The other however, was 8 years ago when George W. Bush took office. Revered in the red counties as one who would give the farmers an ability to stand up again. Someone who would bring the troops home. Either way, one sees the same emotional responses, you just have to be in the right place.
The only real question though, that is left, is will Obama be different? I’d garner that the real question is how different will he be? Will this scenario get replayed again in 8 years? One thing is for sure, I’m up for something, I wouldn’t call it change, but Obama seems to at least spurring something. Let’s hope it doesn’t become irrational exuberance, and hopefully America will get a little sober in it’s drunken binges of easy money.
We shall see.