Last week, as Senator Barack Obama won the Democratic Party presidential nomination and the former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton bowed out of the race, the American presidential politics has opened up a new chapter. For the first time in American history, we see a realistic possibility for a black man to become this country’s president.
Are American People Ready For A Black President?
If the last 18 months of tight campaign within Democratic Party has a clue, we will have to wonder the following questions:
Who voted for Obama because of his skin color?
Who voted for Obama because they hate Clinton?
Who voted for Obama because they believe, compared with Clinton, Obama will be a weaker rival for John McCain in the presidential election?
It has been reported that supporters of Senator Obama have most been young people who are eager for changes. Obama satisfied those desires by posting as an agent for changes. It is reported that Obama also took advantage those less sophiscated minds by providing little contents in this promises.
But this strategy of over promising is not new. Sixteen years ago, a young governor from a small southern state successfully used this strategy to capture the hearts of millions of Americans. That man was the former president William Jefferson Clinton, the husband of Senator Hillary Clinton. Many news analysts say Hillary’s team miss-managed the campaign. They did not. Her strategy was to repeat her husband success and her team executed her strategy faithfully. The only problem was that her opponent outdid her on her own blueprint.
Many others voted for Obama for his skin color. Bill Clinton was the most pro-black president in the United States history. Hillary hoped that she could inherit her husband reputation, but she was wrong. As soon as the black voters saw a candidate of their own color, they changed their minds. Hillary’s campaign could not have done anything in this regard. Race is still a dark and dirty secret in American life. Skin color matters.
Road for Obama will be anything but a smooth one. All those issues that Obama managed to escape unscathed will be opened up again as the right wing conservative forces will join force to fight their new rival. The majority people in this country are still white. Whether this majority is ready to accept a black president remains to be tested.
Obama has been an inspirational speaker to preach the converted. When it comes to the majority of middle road American, he will have to come out with a lot more details. The more details he gets, the more people he will alienate and the less his campaign will look glamorous.
As an Asian American, white guilt has no place in my thought. If back makes up 10 percent of the U.S population, the odd of electing a black individual is 10 percent. The chance will stay the same in each election. ‘It is time’ is never a sufficient argument. The goal of a presidential election is to find the best person to lead this county. The Presidency is not a welfare program. It is better for a black presidential candidate to emerge from someone who has been naturally established himself/herself by serving prominent leadership positions, such as General Powell and Secretary Rice. A successful President will be the one who is free from campaign presures.
I predict Senator McCain will collect the majority of votes in the November national election. He will turn out to be an acceptable candidate. McCain came off the Republican primary virtually unscathed. Many of his rivals committed political suicides. (An example would be the one time untouchable Mr. 911 Rudy Juliani.) The prolonged Democratic primary also helped McCain since Obama and Hillary have deeply wounded each other. Luck is important. Often, being the right man at the right spot is all it takes to win. Within the Republican Party, a few ultra right wingers, who had been disappointed at McCain’s compromising senate serving record, will again rally behind McCain once they see their other choice is a black man with an ultra liberal mind.
I personally would prefer to vote on the Demotic line. McCain is going to get my vote this time. Compared with the past two presidents, McCain is a true American hero. He served this country loyally and honestly. His patriotism is beyond doubt. He will be a suitable symbol for the highest office of this country.
This year’s Democratic primary will be remembered for a long time. It is the first time in American history that a black and a woman citizen become so close to the presidency. This year will be the beginning year of a new ear. Both Obama and Clinton have made their footprints in the American presidential history. Forward looking, both will continue to be active as prominent political figures. United States of America will remain an envy of the world for a long time. May God richly bless this land and its people!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
slow cars in fast lanes are dangerous too
No doubt all drivers ought to observe speed limits. Those who cruise leisurely have the same rights to use the roads as everyone else. However, common sense also tells us that the safest way to drive is to follow the traffic flow where one's relative speed with other moving vehicles is the lowest. Those who have difficulties or lack of willingness to follow the traffic should flush to the right lanes where it is safe for themselves as well all others. The majority of drivers in rush hours have tight schedules. A fair share of public attention has been given to speeding. It is time to let know that consistently driving above and below the speed limits are both against the laws. Police has been ticketing speeders all the time. Now it is time for the police to start giving traffic summons to the traffic stalkers as well.
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Monday, June 2, 2008
a new era of high energy costs
The gas price has become high. On Sunday, when I filled up my Honda accord gas tank, the bill was a whopping $43 at $4.09 per gallon on the regular. My other SUV which requires premium gas cost more than $80 to fill up. I protect. The gas price at this level is disruptive to my life.
In the past 20 years, the gasoline price has been largely low and stable. This environment made people forget that oil had been a scare and non-renewable natural resource. I came to this country 22 years ago. Gasoline was below one dollar per gallon then. Sometimes, the gas stations gave 2 glasses as gifts to customers who filled up their tanks. Afterwards, the gasoline prices rose to $1 plus change, $2 plus change and $3 plus change.
A low and stable gasoline price contributed to the economic expansions. Suburbs mushroomed around cities. People began to build larger and larger houses. One can generally guess the year in which the neighborhood was built by the sized of the houses. The bigger the size, the later in years in which those houses were built. More and more people relied on driving for almost everything they do. Their vehicles became larger and larger – SUVs and sometimes just trucks. A low gasoline price was responsible for this wasteful life style.
On the other hand, a low gas price inhibited the development of the public transportations. Nowadays, for many living in the suburban areas, buses and commuter trains are off limit. A low gas price also removed incentives for industries to deploy and market energy conservation technologies. We know that many car manufactures have had some gas efficient designs for many years. The gas mileages for cars have remained unchanged for the past 20 years.
While we generally believe that a free market is the most efficient form of economy, we also know that a sudden price upswing in a key component in people’s daily life and the economy may become disruptive. The oil shock in the 70s was a good example.
Last week, in response to growing public and political pressure over soaring gasoline prices, President Bush said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Energy Department are conducting inquires into illegal manipulation of gasoline prices. In addition, the FTC and the U.S. Attorney General are contacting all 50 state attorneys general to urge them to also investigate possible market manipulation.
While welcoming the government interventions, I also believe the government has to do much more. The oil shock in the 70s was a politically motivated event. But this current oil price hike has profound reasons. Most of the world oil reserves have been discovered. The chance of finding another major oil reservoir is small. In the mean while, the world oil demand has been steadily rising along with the growth of the world economy, especially the BRIC countries. We have entered a new era of high energy costs.
It is high time for the government to change its long standing practice by permitting offshore drilling near the US shore lines and in the state of Alaska. By announcing such an intention, the US government will be able to bring down the oil prices in the world markets.
In the long run, governments and people all over the world should be encouraged to engage in energy conservation and exploring alternate energy sources. We will all have to drive less in smaller cars, put up with less heating in winter and air conditioning in summer. We will have to develop a habit of turning on and off the lights as we enter and leaving the rooms. We all will do whatever we can to save a bundle here and there.
Imaging soon, our highways will have only half of today’s traffic, imaging half of the cars on roads will be outfitted with natural gas tubes, hybrid engines or just outright electrical, what a leisurely and clean world we all will be in! Oil prices will once again be at 99 cents per gallon. But who will care by then?
There are news reports that some companies and schools are considering let students and workers work on a 4 day per week schedule. Not a bad idea. I would like to add that 5 day a week telecommuting is an even better option. In stead of spending 3 hours behind a steering wheel a day, I will be kicking and jumping in my back yard. I can use the time to play tennis, golf; I can go to the gym everyday instead once a week; I can go fishing, boating or tan on the Spring Lake beaches; I will not miss my favorite TV series or a newly releases movies; I will be able to eat 3 meals with my family; I will never have to leave dishes unwashed after breakfast; I can attend more job training classes and become more productive for my employer. I am looking forward to that day.
In the past 20 years, the gasoline price has been largely low and stable. This environment made people forget that oil had been a scare and non-renewable natural resource. I came to this country 22 years ago. Gasoline was below one dollar per gallon then. Sometimes, the gas stations gave 2 glasses as gifts to customers who filled up their tanks. Afterwards, the gasoline prices rose to $1 plus change, $2 plus change and $3 plus change.
A low and stable gasoline price contributed to the economic expansions. Suburbs mushroomed around cities. People began to build larger and larger houses. One can generally guess the year in which the neighborhood was built by the sized of the houses. The bigger the size, the later in years in which those houses were built. More and more people relied on driving for almost everything they do. Their vehicles became larger and larger – SUVs and sometimes just trucks. A low gasoline price was responsible for this wasteful life style.
On the other hand, a low gas price inhibited the development of the public transportations. Nowadays, for many living in the suburban areas, buses and commuter trains are off limit. A low gas price also removed incentives for industries to deploy and market energy conservation technologies. We know that many car manufactures have had some gas efficient designs for many years. The gas mileages for cars have remained unchanged for the past 20 years.
While we generally believe that a free market is the most efficient form of economy, we also know that a sudden price upswing in a key component in people’s daily life and the economy may become disruptive. The oil shock in the 70s was a good example.
Last week, in response to growing public and political pressure over soaring gasoline prices, President Bush said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Energy Department are conducting inquires into illegal manipulation of gasoline prices. In addition, the FTC and the U.S. Attorney General are contacting all 50 state attorneys general to urge them to also investigate possible market manipulation.
While welcoming the government interventions, I also believe the government has to do much more. The oil shock in the 70s was a politically motivated event. But this current oil price hike has profound reasons. Most of the world oil reserves have been discovered. The chance of finding another major oil reservoir is small. In the mean while, the world oil demand has been steadily rising along with the growth of the world economy, especially the BRIC countries. We have entered a new era of high energy costs.
It is high time for the government to change its long standing practice by permitting offshore drilling near the US shore lines and in the state of Alaska. By announcing such an intention, the US government will be able to bring down the oil prices in the world markets.
In the long run, governments and people all over the world should be encouraged to engage in energy conservation and exploring alternate energy sources. We will all have to drive less in smaller cars, put up with less heating in winter and air conditioning in summer. We will have to develop a habit of turning on and off the lights as we enter and leaving the rooms. We all will do whatever we can to save a bundle here and there.
Imaging soon, our highways will have only half of today’s traffic, imaging half of the cars on roads will be outfitted with natural gas tubes, hybrid engines or just outright electrical, what a leisurely and clean world we all will be in! Oil prices will once again be at 99 cents per gallon. But who will care by then?
There are news reports that some companies and schools are considering let students and workers work on a 4 day per week schedule. Not a bad idea. I would like to add that 5 day a week telecommuting is an even better option. In stead of spending 3 hours behind a steering wheel a day, I will be kicking and jumping in my back yard. I can use the time to play tennis, golf; I can go to the gym everyday instead once a week; I can go fishing, boating or tan on the Spring Lake beaches; I will not miss my favorite TV series or a newly releases movies; I will be able to eat 3 meals with my family; I will never have to leave dishes unwashed after breakfast; I can attend more job training classes and become more productive for my employer. I am looking forward to that day.
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