In a discussion on Facebook about this op-ed article that describes Obama’s presidency and his legacy, I had a few thoughts. The only thing about the article that bothers me is this sentence:
“Obama managed to open diplomatic relations with Cuba, which will put the communist nation on a path toward capitalism and democracy, by getting Pope Francis to place leverage on a feeble Fidel Castro.”
They say this as if communism is evil and capitalism is something akin to the best thing in the world.
Neither system is perfect.
Just my 2 cents, but I think that sometimes, America’s view of its position in the world, and its government in the world, is egocentric and narcissistic.
This does not mean I think democracy is bad. I think it’s a good thing – when done right. But as an example of when it can go wrong, look at all the stuff Obama has done that is good – but it came at a huge cost to him personally and professionally because he had to fight the “democratic” institutions of Congress and the Senate, which are sometimes populated by jingoistic, homophobic, etc ratbags.
For American democracy to be better, the populations in Congress and Senate also have to morally improve. The President as a truly moral figure cannot stand alone, because he is not an autocrat. All these institutions need to continue on self-improvement to even approach the way America sees itself as the bastion of democracy it claims to be.
Again, just my 2 cents, because I am Canadian and British, and therefore have a different perspective. I also studied Russian and Soviet history extensively for my Russian degree, so I know what the systems of communism and socialism were meant to be but realistically can only approach their goal when they come off of paper and are implemented in a human society.
No system is perfect, and America needs to stop pretending that its version of a democratic republic is perfect.
