Perhaps I've become cynical but before the 2008 election I (as a non-US citizen so I can't vote) strongly supported Obama, not because I necessarily agreed with his positions but because of the race situation in America.
It's an understatement to say that African Americans between slavery, segregation and just general racism have had a torrid history in the United States. Honestly I can't imagine the consequences of what that kind of cultural heritage would do to you.
Obama's election was seen by many as a symbol. Having the first African American president holding the highest office in the land was seen as (and is IMHO) a bellwether moment in American history.
Had he lost I think there would've been a lot of anger (and there's already a lot of anger in American society), possibly even feelings of despair and being deprived (as a race). Whatever the case, it certainly seemed important.
What I predicted would happen--and IMHO has happened--is that Obama as president has been deeply disappointing to many of his supporters. The US is still in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Obama administration is basically the political wing of the RIAA/MPAA between ACTA, federal judgeships, ex-RIAA lawyers filling the DoJ and so on.
It has turned out to be worse than my own cynical predictions. Obama the candidate was great. He spoke frankly and intelligently whereas Hilary Clinton (and most others) would give bottled answers to questions that made it seemed like they were just going through the motions and, in many ways, felt entitled to the office.
So what we have now is, I believe, a partial catharsis of race relations in America (which is good) and also the reality that politicians are politicians first and foremost, regardless of race or creed.
As for ACTA, at least the stupid three strikes Internet stuff is gone but the treaty is still an embarrassment both in content and execution. It was negotiated in secret. So much for government openness. Thank God for Wikileaks (and similar).
But I guess we can't call it a treaty. To do so would be a de facto admission that it requires Senate ratification. Instead words like "accord" and "agreement" are bandied about to dodge due process. Another embarrassment.
The fundamental problem is that the extreme concentration of wealth in the US increases the power of industry groups like the recording industry, banking industry, oil, defense, etc. relative to the citizenry, and those groups capture and have their way wth the government.
Obama had the most effective grassroots funding in US history, but even then it only made up ~half his campaign donations. The other half came from industry groups and wealthy individuals. But the latter not only fund campaigns, but hire high-powered lobbyists who were usually prior Congressional staff members, and also provide well-paid revolving door jobs, directorships, etc. for politicians when they leave office. Politicians are funded, courted, bribed, and basically controlled from their political life's cradle to grave. The entire system is almost completely captured.
Unfortunately there are no wealthy special interests who particularly oppose ACTA, just segments of the populace, which don't have the financial clout to buy access to Congress or the President. Hence things like ACTA is the result, even with a president like Obama.
It's an understatement to say that African Americans between slavery, segregation and just general racism have had a torrid history in the United States. Honestly I can't imagine the consequences of what that kind of cultural heritage would do to you.
Obama's election was seen by many as a symbol. Having the first African American president holding the highest office in the land was seen as (and is IMHO) a bellwether moment in American history.
Had he lost I think there would've been a lot of anger (and there's already a lot of anger in American society), possibly even feelings of despair and being deprived (as a race). Whatever the case, it certainly seemed important.
What I predicted would happen--and IMHO has happened--is that Obama as president has been deeply disappointing to many of his supporters. The US is still in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Obama administration is basically the political wing of the RIAA/MPAA between ACTA, federal judgeships, ex-RIAA lawyers filling the DoJ and so on.
It has turned out to be worse than my own cynical predictions. Obama the candidate was great. He spoke frankly and intelligently whereas Hilary Clinton (and most others) would give bottled answers to questions that made it seemed like they were just going through the motions and, in many ways, felt entitled to the office.
So what we have now is, I believe, a partial catharsis of race relations in America (which is good) and also the reality that politicians are politicians first and foremost, regardless of race or creed.
As for ACTA, at least the stupid three strikes Internet stuff is gone but the treaty is still an embarrassment both in content and execution. It was negotiated in secret. So much for government openness. Thank God for Wikileaks (and similar).
But I guess we can't call it a treaty. To do so would be a de facto admission that it requires Senate ratification. Instead words like "accord" and "agreement" are bandied about to dodge due process. Another embarrassment.