[lbo-talk] Dennis Perrin on the ecstasy of the Dems

[Joanna]

Doug
> Woj, sometimes it seems like you've got a set of scripts that you  
> invoke regardless of how tangential the stimulus is. The excruciating  
> thing about all this Obamamania is its delusional quality - that he's  
> something other than a loyal servant of the status quo. Were he  
> elected, do you think any of the following will change? 1) The U.S.'s  
> global imperial ambitions. 2) The U.S. jailing more people than any  
> other place on earth. 3) U.S. energy profligacy. 4) The fact that the  
> U.S. has the most unequal distribution of income and the highest  
> poverty rate in the First World. 5) Any of your standard race and  
> gender gaps on income and wealth.
>   
What I said -- and what Woj seconded -- was not that Obama would change 
anything or even try but that his election would be the result of 
changing expectations and that this would be a good sign.

My sister - an innocent soul, forty-something child-welfare worker - is 
a big Obama fan. She read his book and has completely fallen for his 
"audacity of hope" message. And I don't argue with her because the proof 
will be in the pudding if he's elected. I also think that if the vast 
majority of people vote for Obama because they think it will bring a 
certain amount of positive change, this, in itself is a good thing. I 
mean 1) what alternative do they have and 2) they will neverthless exert 
a certain kind of pressure. Even their disappointment will be a better 
thing than the self-satisfaction of a Hillary reality vote.

Joanna