Obama and the Politics of Crowds
From the Wall Street Journal Oct 30th 2008. This is a psychological analysis of avid Obamatons. Very insightful and draw your own conclusions about The Messiah, The One. The Redeemer.
The masses greeting the candidate on the trail are a sign of great unease.
By Fouad Ajami
There is something odd — and dare I say novel — in American politics about the crowds that have been greeting Barack Obama on his campaign trail. Hitherto, crowds have not been a prominent feature of American politics. We associate them with the temper of Third World societies. We think of places like Argentina and Egypt and Iran, of multitudes brought together by their zeal for a Peron or a Nasser or a Khomeini. In these kinds of societies, the crowd comes forth to affirm its faith in a redeemer: a man who would set the world right.
Stupid and stupid you can get!
Yesterday I popped into my local post office to mail a letter home to Malaysia.
This is the conversation I had with the postman behind the counter.
Postman: How you doin?
Umah: Good Sir, how are you? Good.
He then takes my letter and puts it on the electronic scale and searches for Malaysia on his computer.
Postman: Ah, its coming out as Malaya.
Umah: Oh, that’s the old British colonial name. You have to change it to Malaysia.
Postman: OK. It’s coming out as Malaysia. Is it near Britain?
Umah: No, sir.
Postman: Is it near Africa?
Umah: No. It’s in South East Asia. You have to look at the map to find where it is.
Postman: Do they have black people like us over there.
Why Obama is better?
Obama is a very well poised individual who chose public service over a high paying Wall Street job. He is not an accidental politician, but a born leader who has made it inspite of his humble beginnings through persistent efforts.
‘Surge’on McCain and in particular Sarah Palin are only engaged in smear politics and over blowing this “Joe Plumber” as a national symbol for small businessmen. It is unfortunate to see such desperate tactics.
Continuation of USA as the world leader and as a haven for peace and prosperity can only come from growing middle class. Only the middle class has the means to engage this “Joe Plumber” and his buddy “Joe Six Packs”. The current system favors the rich and deprives the poor. While poor won’t create jobs, they can be alleviated to become part of the mainstream and make them add to the economy. Many bright people among the poor loiter today in dark, doing subservient jobs and stay ever at the mercy of the rich. The rich continue to get richer by erecting barriers for entry at the expense of the poor.
It is reasonable to expect the rich to part fair share of their “profit margins” for the unfair share of infrastructure support and undue advantages they gain from this country. ( if there were no barriers for entry they would not have enjoyed that margin anyway). It is a myth to think these rich will part their wealth for good cause. McCain has 18 houses ( from their beer distribution business ) and why did he not create jobs instead of mansions then. I live close to where there are lot of rich people. Recently when there was a severe gas shortage in GA, a parent in my son’s debate team was driving around in HUMMER while he had five other cars.
If all rich people are like Bill Gates I can understand. But in reality the wealth created by rich will go to demonstrating their vanity. India was a classic example of where there were traditionally rich people. The middle class eroded completely after the industrialization of the west and the collapse of hand made goods.
It was Mahatma Gandhi that mobilized the poor, laid the foundation for self sustaianane of atomic villages and lead to future leaders that helped the country gain independance not only from British imperialists, but also from the ruling rich class. Success of companies like INFOSYS is a classic example of where a middleclass person could compete head to head with TATA’s and BIRLA’s and build world class companies from India.
There is need to change the course of DEFENSE, ENERGY, HEALTH CARE and EDUCATION in this country. There are opportunities to create new large scale jobs in several sectors by involving thought leaders who have long term goals and not just short term ROI driven WALL STREET mentality. I think Barack has the vision, conviction and the leadership skills to do this more than McCain. Extremely well run campaign from Barack Obama ( even admitted by Hilary and Bill Clinton) is a testimony to his leadership and organization skills. He can make a lasting change in this country. Faltered campaigns and irresponsible decisions like choosing least qualified Sarah Palin are clear examples of what we can expect from McCain. I think we will be in good hands with Obama. FORGET THAT “SPREAD THE WEALTH RHETORIC”. It is a baseless MANTRA that only appeals to RED NECKs in this country. It is touted by a losing political party in their last minute desperation. Go VOTE for Obama TODAY!
HOW TO TAKE FOOD FOR A HEALTHY LIVING
WHAT FOODS SHOULD WE TAKE TO REMAIN HEALTHY?
We know that the quality of food that we partake affects the mind. This was known to our ancestors long back. Please see Chandogya Upanishad (7.26.2) wherein it is said that the purity of food affects the quality of mind.
We also know that there is a close relationship between body and mind. It is the mind which creates the future body as it is the repository of karmas till one attains moksha.
Food is classified into three groups-Saatvika, Rajasika and Tamasika. (Vide 17th chapter of Bh.Gita). There are references in scriptural works on the list of foods coming under the three categories.
There are three types of DOSHAS affecting the foods-
1. JAATIDOSHA
2. NIMITTADOSHA AND
3. AASHRAYADOSHA
Obama - on the daily show
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