Most of us in Britain breathed a collective sigh of relief when President Obama was returned to office for another four years. The United States, the world’s superpower, remains in safe hands until at least 2017. But we are all aware that the incumbent’s achievements had been disappointing compared to the massage of “Change We Can Believe In” that inspired so many in 2008. This is largely not the fault of the Democratic Party; indeed the Republicans are to blame for blocking radical and overdue legislative changes, and then (thankfully unsuccessfully) attempting to capitalise on the Democrats’ supposed inactivity. And then there is the inevitable buzz factor surrounding a popular candidate- which fades with alarming speed.
Of course, the American public would benefit from strong leadership if they gave it the power to behave as such. Electing a pro-reform President and then a conservative majority in the legislature seems like a ridiculous collective decision. Unfortunately, this will be the state of affairs until at least 2015, by which time the lame duck mentality will be rapidly setting in. However, it is only possible to work with what one has been given, and the US does have considerable power invested in the executive. There will be limits to what can be achieved, but by 2017 we can expect Obamacare, fairer taxation, some progress towards proper gun control (or bullet control, as advocated by Chris Rock), a car and banking system back from the brink, increased green regulations, and a well-established constructive foreign policy.
If I had been told before 2008 that this could be achieved in the US in under a decade, I would have responded with complete disbelief. Would you have forseen the widespread-ish legalisation of same-sex marriage, albeit so far only at state level, in the space of a few years? On that subject, Obama has also successfully overturned the absurd and cowardly compromise about gay people in the military: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.
And yes, Obama is not as progressive as Jimmy Carter, though he may well be remembered as a higher achiever than Bill Clinton. He has led what has been one of the most scandal free governments ever seen in living memory. His presidency is ushering in a new era of American social liberalism. In many ways, the future is looking brighter for the United States than it did four years ago.
