The Insufficiency of Simple Grace

Our President has followed his muse pass the point of no return. His speeches are predictable; his ideas are in a fixed range that neither solves the thorny, intractable issues of governance or the economy. His belief system, that compromise is a bed rock principle of democracy to be protected at all costs, misses the point. He thinks compromise is the sharing of ideas, when it really involves the sharing of power.

If he would look back to his days in Chicago to Harold Washington's mayoralty, he would find the perfect model for understanding the GOP strategy. If he would look at the sheer number of boilerplate bills introduced in GOP-state controlled legislatures since January, he would find indisputable evidence that the GOP is focused on power, consolidating it; blasting those who challenge them and exploiting democracy to set up an elected oligarchy. If he would read an economic textbook he would know austerity doesn't grow productivity, that wealth is no longer tied to jobs and capital has instruments of production disconnected from labor. If he read John Boehner's posts on twitter, he would know half truths that feel good are dominating politics and marginalizing the facts and policies the country needs.

We need results. Obama is stuck on process. We need vision. Obama's views are neither fierce nor urgent. His simple grace is insufficient.