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33.3 million television viewers tuned in to the 2014 State of the Union. As expected, it was the same show as the previous year, dressed with a different bow (which perhaps explains the record low viewings). For some who watched the most powerful man in the free world deliver his speech, the statements made were infuriating.
It is no secret that the inner workings of the American government have fallen to the way-side in actual communication with the general public (though we all assume that well known political figures are little more than the puppets of those who fund their campaign). But what is there to misunderstand when the President of the United States proclaims with pride, “So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do?”
For many Americans, this was the moment when we stopped resting our eyes and did a double take, asking, “Did he just say, ‘I can do what I want, forget actual democracy?” This statement is only a reflection of the general attitude among powerful men. Be them political figures or prepubescent pop stars. An example of reckless power would be Justin Bieber signing the guestbook at the Anne Frank House, “Hopefully she would have been a belieber.”
What is it that goes through the minds of powerful men that makes them believe they can act so arrogantly and expect people to still level them with respect afterwards?
Most certainly, it was not the intent of our great leader to say that our constitutional rights are worth little more than an occasional trip to the latrine? Unfortunately, it appears that was made abundantly clear by Obama’s most recent fete of the constitution where he evokes his use of “pen and phone” in order to do what he thinks is right, a more than disheartening tactic in itself.
Up until this point many have been lead to believe that the president wasn’t the end all be all decision maker in American legislation. And he most certainly was not qualified to decide what was so-called “affordable” health care nor to “…act on [his] own to slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects…” No matter how pure the intentions.
Perhaps the handshake between Obama and Castro was the omen for America’s new government system. One in which Obama plays the dictator and every U.S. citizen plays the silent role of martyr. Or perhaps Americans will realize that if even the African-American supporters, who rolled out for Obama in 2010 in record high voting, are now beginning to run for the hills, something must be severely wrong.
This is not an impeachment speech. This is a wake up call. If everyone turns a blind eye and ignorant ear to the subtle steps America makes towards dictatorship, we’ll soon find ourselves repeating the history of the fallen Roman Empire.
