Hope and Change

In 2008, Barack Obama based his presidential campaign on the words, “hope and change”.  Today, Republicans throw that phrase in his face saying he failed to keep his campaign promise.  However, if yo look at what has transpired since his inauguration it is obvious that everyone including Obama has “hoped” for a different environment in Washington.  At no previous time in history has the public opinion of Congress been lower than it is today.  Everyone is “hoping for a change.”  Unfortunately, for all citizens there has been change but the change has been for the worse not for the better.  At the base of this unwanted change is the record number of filibusters on the part of Republicans in the Senate.  Further change can be found in the inability of either House of Congress to pass legislation to create jobs in spite of their promise to do so. Another change was exhibited in the RNC Convention where there were more lies and misinformation than at any other time in political history.  Finally, change can be found in another first.  For the first time in the economic history of the country, when confronted with an economic recession, the government took the path of austerity rather than attempting to offset the drop in private sector economic activity with an increase in public sector economic activity.  This change has resulted in a slowing of the recovery rather than helping to speed the recovery.  There is still hope on the part of citizens that Congress will finally do their job.  There is hope that the Senate will lose the filibuster.  Finally if not hope, there is wishful thinking that Congress will learn the politics of compromise.