American Citizens have Commitment Issues

The relationship that Americans have with the presidency has always been a love-hate relationship.  We treat each president pretty much the same way.  It starts out new and exciting, kind of like any new relationship.  We are excited to get to know each other, and have great hope for the future.  Every time we tell ourselves this it this one is going to be different I can just feel it.  Then pretty soon those cute things that enticed us in the beginning start to become annoying.  President Obama’s eloquence that held our rapt attention before now seems to be empty words.  We complain that he’s all sweet talk and no action.  Soon we feel rejected and hurt, all his promises empty and unfulfilled.  Basically the citizens of the United States have serious commitment issues.

The citizens’ relationship with the president is like a lot of high school relationships.  We start out thinking of forever, but as soon as the going gets tough we bail.   We are quick to start blaming every little thing on him, and are ashamed we even entered into the relationship in the beginning.  Before we even really give him a chance we are already looking ahead scoping out the prospect for a new one something better, in say 2012 or so never mind it isn’t even 2010 yet.

In today’s world we are simply incapable of patience.  We are a nation of speed, all about the efficiency.  The idea of waiting a year for anything just seems preposterous to us.  We want change and we want it now.  Never mind that our governmental system is based on patience, and gridlock.  That does not matter to the American people all we want are results damn it and we want them fast.  I feel like the whole 24-hour news cycle is just too much, and is not helping with or already pretty serious commitment issues.  The news is just like those friends in high school that were jealous of your relationship and are trying to get you to break up.  They are always there buzzing in our ears telling us all the naughty things our president is doing behind our backs.

I do not think this relationship is ever going to change.  We are never going to have a president that lives up to our expectations and high standards simply because the president is human and bound to make mistakes.  The cycle will continue, and our love hate relationship will remain.

Afghanistan Report

Obama has officially declared a surge in Afghani troops.  He has the backing of NATO and the United Nations on this as well.  Will this increase lead to a long-term commitment?  If it does lead to a long-tern commitment will American citizens support or express their displeasure? How is it being paid for?  I believe that it is safe to say that President Obama does not wish for the troop increase to lead to a long-term commitment, but I feel like any increase guarantees a longer commitment than originally planned for.  So far the plan in place is 18 months.  One of the main focuses is on training the local Afghan troops.  However there are those that doubt that 18 months will be sufficient enough time.  U.S. ambassador Susan Rice is one that thinks that 18 months is too short; “it is not the expectation” that all required Afghan security forces “will be trained within 18 months” (CNN).

Along with commitment issues there is also the question of how is this being paid for.  The new increase in troops is going to cost the United States an extra $30 billion a year.  So far there is no concrete plan as to how the cost is being dealt with.  Some democrats are trying to purpose a war tax to help to cover the expense.  However other democrats and most of the republicans strongly oppose this idea.  So it looks like the money is going to be loaned to us and added to the national deficit.

The idea of a war tax is a good idea, but bad timing.  The last thing American citizens want right now, during this continuing economic downturn, is an increase in their taxes.  I feel like an increase in taxes right now would lower people’s opinion of the surge.  On the other hand an increase in our national deficit is not going to garner citizens support for the surge either.