"President-elect Obama plans to to publish these weekly updates through the Transition and then from the White House."It seems that President-elect Obama is going to bring FDR's fireside chats to the modern age by going to be the first President to deliver their weekly address by video. From his first video address, it is quite clear that he plans to do something about the current economic crisis when he is inaugurated. One of his points is, "It means investing $150 billion to build an American green energy economy that will create five million new jobs, while freeing our nation from the tyranny of foreign oil, and saving our planet for our children." seems like an ambitious plan, perhaps too ambitious....
Regardless of his plans for the future, his decision to make his weekly address more accesible to everybody deserves merit. +1 Obama
3 comments:
With the current economic crisis, it's not hard to see why Obama wants to follow the example of FDR. I wonder, however, if Obama may be setting the bar too high. Certainly, Franklin Roosevelt is, if not revered, then at least known, as the president who led America through a "good" war an out of the Great Depression. Sometimes, there is exaggeration of effects: good intentions become great, and I think this was the case with FDR. His New Deal was not as succesful as he had intended (according to Mr. McGlashan), and only through the industrialization required by US entrance in WWII ended the Depression. If circumstances were different, perhaps we would look at Roosevelt differently.
At the same time, there is risk in following FDR's reputed (and not necessarily true) example. Think of the failure of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, which was stopped by the Vietnam War.
The situation Obama faces is not so different from those faced by FDR and Johnson. Obama must face a serious economic crisis and a war at the same time. There is a chance that Obama will not be able to deliver, and it will not necessarily be his fault. By associating himself with FDR, Obama has much to lose.
I think these weekly updtates are a good idea. President Bush seems out of touch with the people of the United States because he doesn't do these fireside chats. Obama's will to connect with the people is a good sign that the government is heading towards the right direction, in my opinion.
I think it's a really smart move that he's doing this, actually. People really liked FDR, and his fireside chats made them feel closer to him. Since Obama is supposed to be for the people, it would make sense for him to try to connect with them.
Brilliant!
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