Papa Don’t Preach

“Is the pen mightier than the sword? Think again! There is a person who has done nothing but just talk his way to the Nobel Prize.”

It was clear even before the election began that Barack Obama was the next U.S. president. The people did not seem too interested in another five year term of Republicans governing the country after a decade of failed policies. Not to forget the contender, Senator John McCain who could not keep up with the stiff competition from his Democratic rival succumbed by calling him “That one” in Larry King Live. Of course! He was no match for the orator. Many, me included believed that Obama was a magic wand who could solve the crisis situation after listening to his speeches. So electing Obama as the most powerful man on the planet (Indian’s point of view in CNN) was because he seemed to have a solution and he was the only alternative, after Hillary Clinton backed out.

The Magic wand that did not work:

After Lehman Brothers went down it was clear that something had to be done to avoid the consequences of other banks following pursuit. Gorge Bush wanted to retire in peace so he just postponed the action till the end of his tenure. What followed next were the stimulus packages to the businesses cleared by the congress signed by the president, Barack Obama. There were several reasons to opt for this solution over other more viable solutions. One of the best was suggested by Paul Krugman, asking the government to buy stakes in these banks. But the government was adamantly opposing it because they did not want to implement a socialist idea and secondly, the stimulus package was the easiest strategy to execute. The worst outcome of the stimulus package was diverting the education aid to fund the stimulus package which ultimately ended up as fat paychecks, bonuses and incentives for the highly placed executives of the banks. Now we have the U.S. government crying that education in their country has deteriorated. Had they bought the stakes in banks, the government could have very well controlled the way moneys were being put to use. The economy is definitely recovering but the extent is unpredictable. Some predict a double dipped recession and the others a jobless recovery which means in the former case, the worst is yet to come or in the latter, no jobs for those who lost them. So much so for Obama’s first election promise was “Jobs”. Regarding the healthcare, nothing has visibly changed.

More troops to advocate Peace:

President Barack Obama has changed the way U.S. has been projecting itself to the rest of the world. He is more open to the issue in Iran. He succeeded in getting Iran’s consent for U.N. inspection unlike the previous administration which was revving up its military resources to launch at any moment. But then, it is quite early to give away the Nobel Prize just because he has been a little deviating from the previous administration. His ideas are good but then, he actually has not implemented the ideas successfully. There is still a long way to go. Consider for example, the sorry state that Afghanistan is in. When the country needs more aid to pull up, Obama is debating over sending more troops to gain a strategic advantage over Taliban. When Gaza strip was being bombed by Israel on the pretext of Hammas, he just went along with the international community by condemning the attacks. He did not even do as much as raise a finger against it.

Nobel Prize to Encourage:

The Nobel Prize is one of the most coveted Prizes in the World. It just can’t be given to a prospect in order to encourage him in his endeavor but rather to people who have proved themselves. Compared to other laudators, Obama stands nowhere. Was he really humbled or had he just rephrased Sir Winston Churchill’s idea of true humility? He might deserve the prize in the future but right now it is too early. Will you give the Man Booker to a person who has just announced the title? As an ending note I would like to add this: In his 1895 will, Sir Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses." The Nobel committee from now on at least should start executing his will to the word.