A question for Obama supporters

[skepticscott]

Barack Obama is often accused (wrongly) of being short on concrete policy positions and of driving his campaign largely on lofty rhetoric. Certainly, even a cursory perusal of his web site puts the lie to that. Granted, his speeches are often longer on inspiration than they are on policy details, but inspiration is what political speeches are about-inspiring people to do what you believe needs to be done to best serve the interests of the country, difficult though it may be.

Given that our next president may have some of the most difficult and critical policy issues in recent memory to deal with, here is my question: If Obama is elected, what have you been inspired to do in furtherance of his substantial agenda? What are you willing to do that you know needs to be done but that you don't really want to do, in support of his policies? What sacrifices are you willing to make for Obama as president that you would not make for any other candidate?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Seppuku.

[JimGinPA]

3. Never Put Off Till Tomorrow...

:rofl:

[LordJFT]

2. If Obama's elected I'll trade in my savings bonds right away so I'm not helping increase the

national debt

[silverweb]

4. That question is rather vague.

I'd say what each of us is willing to do will be in direct response to what he suggests as solutions and requests as individual/collective actions.

Let's get him elected and sworn in first. Then we'll be ready to take action per his directives.

Personally, I have absolutely no doubt that whatever he suggests or asks of us will be the right thing to do, and his power to inspire will motivate even the most lukewarm citizen to help as much as possible.

[Window]

5. Whatever he asks. I'm sure he'll come up with something better than *Bush

telling us to go shopping even though the terror alert is at it's highest, or spreading love to doctors (or whatever the hell he said). LOL!

I'm sure I'll be doing some type of community service.

[peace13]

6. I would be willing to invest or convert to alternate energy forms

at my home and business. No meat on Fridays and I'll take my neighbor to the grocery to save on the gas. Well...it's a start. Peace, Kim

[jgraz]

7. I have no intention of supporting his agenda

Like most progressives, I'll be working my ass off to make sure he's supporting OUR agenda.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Me too

[skepticscott]

15. The problem remains

that, although Obama may be the best remaining candidate to promote it, a purely progressive agenda of the type I'm guessing you have in kind does not enjoy broad popular support. If it did, John Edwards or Dennis Kucinich would be where Hillary Clinton is right now. So even if the progressive wing of the Democratic party can get Obama going their way on at least some issues, what can he or will he motivate people to do along those lines that no one else can?

[jgraz]

16. Actually, a purely progressive agenda does enjoy broad popular support

Most people want single-payer health care, less military spending, an end to the war, higher taxes on the wealthy, decriminalized marijuana, etc, etc, etc.

The only places that agenda doesn't have support is in D.C. and in the Corporate Media

[Tatiana]

8. Let's not push false memes, please.

"Granted, his speeches are often longer on inspiration than they are on policy details,"

Obama has given very substantive speeches on Iraq (with specifics for withdrawal) and the economy (especially the lending/housing crisis) that provide plenty of specifics.

Second, as an relatively intelligent and informed citizen, I am not waiting for Obama to tell me what I need to do to support the policies he advocates. I gave up my SUV before Obama ever ran for President. I miss it, but I know that fuel efficiency is more important.

Bottom line is that the awful state of our environment and our economic crisis should be inspiration enough for us to change some of our ways. But if Obama can inspire even more, that's even better.

[skepticscott]

12. I didn't say

that he NEVER gives speeches on hard policy issues, simply that many of them (the ones he's given after winning a primary, for example) aren't quite so concrete. And as I said, I understand that and have no problem with it. Though I do wish he (or any candidate) would be more specific about how they're going to pay for everything they propose.

And while it's all very well that you're willing to do some of what needs to be done without being told or inspired, if it were that easy all around, we wouldn't have the problems we do in the first place. The trouble is not with people like you, but with the people who have been told by politicians for years that they needn't give up anything, that sacrifice is for suckers and that all they need to do to enjoy the good life is stay the course, and who have believed it. To have any success in reversing the downslide this country is on, the next president will have to be able to get a lot people to do things they aren't used to and that they don't want to do, including people that may not have voted for them. I just don't think that the awful state of things will be enough. Most people will have to see things become irretrievably bad before they change their ways, and even then they are likely to act largely out of self-interest. I'm still waiting to hear the words "shared sacrifice" or something similar spoken by Obama or any candidate and to hear that notion embraced (at least) by their supporters. We're nowhere close to that sentiment yet and we badly need to be.

[Drachasor]

9. I'll become involved in Open Government -- something that is impossible to do if Hillary is elected

Huuuge policy difference right there. Obama wants to enable the common citizen.

[otohara]

11. Kids Wanting to Go to College

would be smart to sign up for the "we invest in you, you invest in America" agenda idea. It would do the kids good to do some community service in exchange for education bucks. If my kid weren't almost done with college, I would encourage him to do this. Maybe for post-grad school, he can do this.

I will continue to do my hardest to help the environment by recycling, less water use, less driving, etc.

[dana_b]

13. good one. my kid is 18 and I think she wouldn't mind

doing a year or two in the Peace Corps. As a matter of fact, I know that she wouldn't mind.

In response to the OP, I just feel like he's asking us to become more involved- to take part in OUR government. Whether it be volunteering or what have you. Yes, even George asked us to volunteer, and we should. But from him it seems like a false piece of advice. "Volunteer because there's no way that we're going to help you" kind of thing. With Obama, I think it's a "we're in this together" thing. I'm sure Clinton would support that too. It's just that there are other aspects of her campaign and some of her policies that don't appeal to me.

[ginnyinWI]

14. well I'll tell you what I think will happen.

I believe that great leaders inspire their people to become better. I think that will happen--people will be inspired to become better. He will lead by example and it will have an impact on people's sense of pride in what we should be as Americans.