Thank You Zach*

I think it’s fair to say that for all of the calamity of the current political and economic environments, there is also a general sense of excitement around how things may or may not change with the coming administration. At the very least, I think there’s an interest surrounding the Obama administration’s speak of change, and for reasons other than it being a welcome distraction from how absolutely in the wrong direction our country seems to be.

And, possibly to the detriment of Obama, everyone knows what they should be expecting; health care, public works, a change in our military strategy, etc. In other words, the stick with which the world will be measuring Obama’s performance has clear markers for success. For what it’s worth, I think he’s going to do an alright job. With what he can control, it seems like he has a good strategy for getting things done, and the right people around him, for the most part, to carry things out.

My primary concern for the years to come is how the country is going to change in the ways that a new administration can only tangentially effect. I am mostly speaking to the issue of lack of transparency and honesty in the public sphere. I understand that business, some major media, politicians, etc. are going to invariably bend the truth and/or present a version of the truth that most benefits their particular motives. But I also can’t help but think that that sort of thinking has become more pervasive and more generally accepted over the past 8 years.

Take for example the auto industries first attempt at requesting funds from the government. There was no real game plan, no earnestness in their voices. Another good example is republican Governor Tim Pawlenty’s comments after the meeting held by Obama in regard to states receiving money from the federal government. In an interview that same day, despite the best efforts of the interviewer, Pawlenty refused to admit that his state is running a deficit. First he deflects the question, then he tries to equate his state to the average American who has run out of cash and finally he tries to downplay how much money he’s going to need. I find this especially frustrating in light of the fact that he’s coming out of a meeting where the President tried to reassure everyone that financial difficulties are to be expected and that it’s ok. For Christ’s sake, if ever there was a time to come clean about money troubles, now would be the time. Not to mention, this coming from one of the supposed future leaders of the Republican party.

Democrats aren’t exempt from this. They were just as guilty as anyone of being overly self-congratulatory after the economic bailout plan was first passed, despite the addition of billions of dollars of incentives and as we see now, little to no built-in regulation.

At a time of such tremendous change, I would like to allow myself at least the hope that some of what prevents the U.S. from having a more effective democratic process can be removed. That Obama stays as honest as he can, and that some of the people in business, news and politics follow suit. I don’t anticipate and complete 180 from the way things are, but as we transition from one of the most ineffective and secretive administrations in history to what hopes to be one of the most effective and open, is it too much to ask that everyone else in the country pay even the least bit of attention?

*Zach is the smartest, prettiest, most best at cards computer whiz i know. ;)