The honeymoon is well and truly over. Eleven months into Obama’s presidency it seems as if the American people may have lost faith in their Messiah. His approval rating has dropped below 50% and shows little signs of improving. So what’s the most powerful and influential man on the planet supposed to do?
I have a little anecdote that might help Mr. President turn things around or at the very least put some perspective on the whole matter at hand.
In 1980 when I was about to start secondary school in the UK, or high school to my American friends, I was dead set on going to Fairfield Grammar. It was close to my house and all my primary school friends were going there. To my utter disdain, my Mum decided that Cotham Grammar, a school that was located further away and where I would know absolutely no one would be a better choice. You see, she knew that Cotham was a “better” school and more strict. I only cared that I would be in a place that was familiar to me. I couldn’t give a toss that this school might put me on a better educational path.
I cried and begged and sulked and stamped my feet but she would not budge on the matter. I thought that she was cruel and heartless. A few months after starting at Cotham she came up to me one day and admitted that she empathized with my trauma and had wrestled with making the decision with her head and not her heart.
This stuck with me and made me realize that sometimes you have to overrule your heart based on what you believe will make a better future.
In my view President Obama has made several decisions solely with his “head” early in his presidency and I don’t fault him for that. I just believe that in making those decisions he might take the time out to really explain to the American people that we all have to sacrifice and make tough choices. These might not seem at all appealing now but will be the building blocks for a stable future.
If he can make Americans feel like my Mum made me feel once she opened up and explained her thoughts, then he will be well on the way to boosting confidence in his ability to lead and in his decision-making processes.
This is a very well thought out Anecdote. What a great analogy you used. Like you mention, the challenge will be getting Obama to make people feel the same way. Or think with their head and not their heart.
I feel it is more of an issue with Congress and the Republican party. Though everyone including the Democrats in Washington seem to be stubborn.
Obama step into one heck of a mess, just becoming the president of the U.S. I think if Obama is going to make change, he doesn’t need to do it through the people so much. As he needs to crack some major heads in Washington.
Really good story. Thanks Your Mum knew best, and she took and demonstrated the responsibility to take care of you and make the right decisions.
Thanks Jason – My Mum is my hero and I am extremely grateful for her tenacity and strict guidelines in my upbringing.
I have to agree with you that for Obama it will be an uphill struggle. He has to appease so many of the Washington bigwigs that it becomes difficult to execute one’s true intentions…But it’s early days yet and he has a long way to go. Let’s hope that the New Year will treat all Earth’s creatures a little better