Things That I Have to Say

I don't normally comment a lot on political matters but I can't resist noting the following observations that seem astonishingly obvious to me but not -- alas -- to most people.

1. The U.S. Treasury is neither a bottomless piggy bank nor a magic coin purse. One can't perpetually take money out of it without eventually having to put something back in.

2. No matter what Obama does next year, a lot of people is going to be unhappy. And things aren't exactly helped by the way everyone seems to be clamoring for their share of the public purse. One female friend of mine is already discussing the size of the tax rebate she'll receive next year -- it apparently having not occurred to her that tax rebates aren't likely to be -- nor deserve to be -- a top priority of the Obama Administration.

3. As neat as it is to have a black president here in the US, I really doubt Obama is going to put an end to racism anymore than the fall of the Berlin Wall put an end to class issues. Indeed, the notion that most black Americans will shut up about racial issues after January 20 seems rather insulting.

4. One should have the decency to wait until the president-elect has taken office before criticizing his actions. Especially if said criticisms are going to be so painfully trivial. This doesn't mean that we should pretend Obama is perfect just because he won the last election. But such criticism tends to be taken more seriously when it addresses something a person has actually done and not something he's likely to do. And if you waste all your time criticizing Obama at a time when few of his actions have significant impact, you're not likely to be taken all that seriously when it comes time for you to make a serious accusation against the guy.