Editors Perspective
A Wave of Change
I pleaded with our staff to hold this month’s magazine long enough for me to write my perspective the day after the Presidential Inauguration. They humor me and so, on January 21st, I get to share with you my thoughts and impressions following that historic event.
The idea of putting politics aside is one that is difficult for me. My career began in politics, as a legislative staffer to two different California State Assemblymembers. At that time, my whole being oozed politics; it’s who I was; it’s what I did. Since then, though, courtesy of a few job changes and a bit more life experience, my hard-nosed political edge has softened. I am more driven by a desire to create reasonable, balanced solutions then being right. After all, in politics, right is a moving target.
This weekend our local paper published a special commemorative piece on the inauguration of President Barack Obama. As my husband and I were perusing the sections, I asked him if he thought we should keep the piece to some day show our children. “Absolutely,” was his reply. His answer took me a bit by surprise and at the same time is exactly what I expected him to say. He understands that politics and history is not necessarily the same thing.
It’s important to understand, though, that my husband is a staunch Republican. He is a red state. He supported McCain from the very beginning to the bitter, bitter end. I tend to hang in the middle of the political spectrum and vote 50/50 either way. I’m a candidate girl, no longer a party girl. In fact (and I’m sure admitting this will some day come back to haunt me), I didn’t vote for either of the major Presidential candidates. I just couldn’t do it. One was too good to be true, the other had strayed too far from the man I had come to respect and admire. It felt like I was doing the “lesser of two evils” thing and I am so sick of that logic in voting.
That being said, it should be no surprise that I’ve been somewhat noncommittal about the election of President Barack Obama. My attitude has been about reserving judgment until he got in and gets his feet dirty. I would like to be pleasantly surprised and find that he is able to move the machine in a direction that is more ethical, honest, respectful and worth being proud of. But then again, I worked in politics. I’m a bit cynical on the ability of any one person to sway national politics, no matter how intelligent, eloquent or far-from-the-Good-Ole-Boy network he may be.
Even with my jaded outlook, it was hard not to get excited about yesterday. And subsequently why my NRA-card-carrying, red-as-red-can-be, Republican husband insisted that we save the commemorative newspaper piece. Whether you like the man and his politics, or not is a moot point. Yesterday, history was made. And there is something inherently magical in being a part of that moment in time.
I imagine having conversations with my children about what I did that day, what it felt like, how I reacted. They will be similar to the conversations I’ve had with my parents about the day Kennedy was shot. I know where they were, how they felt, what it was like to be in that moment. (Dad was working in a brussels sprout factory and mom was in her office working as a bookkeeper; they both recall that the world stood still.) Very rarely do we get to be an active participant in an event that will, undoubtedly, change the course of our country forever. It’s awe-inspiring and at the end of the day, has absolutely nothing to do with politics.
Today, however, is Day 1 of “Yes We Can” and the world sits on the edge of its seat, on pins and needles, waiting to see what will happen. Quite frankly, I don’t envy President Obama. There is a mounding wave of pressure and expectation that is truly ridiculous for one man to bear. Ultimately, he will end up failing someone. It’s just not possible to do so otherwise.
My hope is that the sentiments expressed and the momentum on which he glides into office will last a bit longer than the average honeymoon period. We in agriculture are desperate to see the impact of his many plans – the economic stimulus package, changes in health care policy, further participation in the DOHA Round and expansion of free trade agreements. With the U.S. Senate confirmation today of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as secretary of agriculture, there is hope for an active voice at the Obama Administration table.
For now, though, as we go back to our daily lives – after all, the cows could care less about the history of yesterday – I think it’s ok to let down our political guard. For another 24-hours or so, it’s ok to not be red or blue. It’s ok to not get into “big government or small government,” who he’s selected to be in his cabinet, what his position is on energy, the war in Iraq, or anything, for that matter. For the next day it’s ok to simply be an American proud of this country and in recognition of the great historical moment that we were witness to.
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