Bizzaro World
By Walter Galt
I’ve never been a huge comic book reader. I grew up in the middle of nowhere, and access to a store that had comic books was pretty rare for me. But every once in a while my brother and I would be given a a few, from family members, friends, etc.
At some point in the eternal comic universe there was a reoccurring Superman storyline that revolved around his doppelganger, Bizzaro, and the planet he came from. While the storyline is entirely too long (and nerdy) to get into here, the concept is that a parallel universe/planet exists, which is populated by opposite versions of people in Superman’s world, doing the exact opposite things as their Earthly counterparts do. As I have spent the last few days reading and hearing about Obama and the infamous 100 Days landmark, I can’t help but think about how similarly and completely backwards the political situation in our country has become. (Additionally, I have been reading 1984 and have found similar terrifying parallels). We are living in a complete Bizzaro World, where things would have been embarrassing at best, and politically devastating at worst, have become common, accepted practice. The media is invested in party lines, and not the truth. The public is looking for what will quickly and easily solve their present problems, not what will stand the test of time. Our politicians are looking for ways to hold onto power as best they can, not serving the principles and ideals that put our country where it is in the first place.
In the last few days Obama’s staff has been simultaneously downplaying and propping up the 100 Days mark. Naturally, the main idea from his people has been that it is a worthless marker that should be ignored, except for all the “good” things he has done that we should be praising. An unnamed Obama advisor has put out the following list as the landmark 100 day issues:
- Passing the “largest” economic stimulus bill in American history.
- Ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay military detention facility and abolishing “enhanced interrogation techniques.”
- Setting a fixed timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq.
- Ordering 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and enlisting, with modest new assistance, European allies in a new multi-layered strategy there and in Pakistan.
- “Returning science to its rightful place” by lifting the Bush restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
- Signing laws to expand children’s health insurance
- Signing a law meant to improve the ability of women who allege pay discrimination to sue their employer.
- Diminishing the role of lobbyists in the White House
- “Forge a meaningful statement from the United Nations” criticizing North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile.
- Lifting travel and remittance restrictions for Cuban Americans who seek to travel more frequently to the island and send more US currency to their immediate family.
- Engaging world leaders in Europe, Turkey, Latin American and the Caribbean with “strength and humility.”
We really are living in Bizzaro World if these are the standards being given as a successful 100 first days. Nearly every one of these points is something negative that is being spun as a positive. Who needs reality anyway, right? Each can be easily and quickly re-written:
- Passed the “largest” Economic Stimulus Bill in American history. With this, Obama has accumulated more debt in 100 days than every President previous to him, combined. This bill was based on a long discredited Keynesian notion that spending is a good way to solve a debt problem. While it may prove politically expedient in the extreme short run, common sense economics and history show otherwise.
- Ordered Gitmo closed, but has no set time to close it, and currently has no plan for taking care of the prisoners.
- Set a timetable for Iraq, aka, kept Bush’s timetable in place.
- Has sent additional troops to Afghanistan, but has no new strategy (ie the Surge) to win said conflict/quagmire. Moveon.org is strangely silent.
- Lifted Bush restrictions on stem cells, but brought most of them back a few days later, naturally in a much more quiet fashion.
- Vastly expanded government provided child-health care, paid for by a massive increase in cigarette taxes (keeping in mind that the vast majority of smokers are poor). Touted as a providing health care for the poor, but in actuality provides health care well into the middle class range- a successful attempt at increasing the likelihood of full national health care.
- Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Act, (and did not place it on the White House website for multiple days for our viewing pleasure as promised), which changes the statute of limitations on pay discrimination cases. It is a gross injustice to employers and a blatant payoff to trial lawyers.
- Talked big about cleaning up Washington’s lobbyist problem, but hired various lobbyists within the administration.
- Had the UN, in the words of Team America: World Police, send North Korea “a very angry letter,” which the entire world knows is backed up by nothing.
- Lifted travel embargoes on Cuba, which will end up benefiting the Cuban government and not the Cuban people.
- Engaged World Leaders by talking down America, and talking up himself. Was so successful on his European Magical Mystery Tour that he was able to get virtually zero help whatsoever for his new campaign in Afghanistan.
Let’s not forget also that within his first 100 days he was also able to get 800+ grassroots organized protests in every state of the country. Even Bush couldn’t do that. Maybe Obama is Bizarro-Bush? Now that’s a scary thought. I’ll take neither please.
Sources:
100 Days: What Obama Wants You To Read
100 Days: How Obama Changed DC