Thoughts On The Inauguration Speech of Barack Obama

From the beginning President Obama has set an ambitious agenda, and his inaugural address continued in that same vein. In the months since his election, as the economy continued to worsen and the world stumbled from one crisis to the next, I and many others wondered how many of his campaign promises he would backtrack on, how many of his grand ideas he would put off. He addressed me and other doubters quite clearly, saying that "...there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans." He then answered our doubts, and laid out anew his plans for moving the country forward, "The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise healthcare's quality and lower its costs. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age." This is an ambitious domestic agenda for anyone, never mind a young, just-elected president in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression.

On foreign policy too he laid out an impressive plan, promising to undo many of George Bush's clearest missteps. He unequivocally stated his opposition to the policies of torture and secret detainment that have cost the United States so much in public standing throughout the world, saying that "...we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals," and hearkening back to the Constitution drafted by the founders, as one which would "...assure the rule of law and the rights of man." He signaled his intention to shift the military focus of the war on terror, stating that "...we'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard- earned peace in Afghanistan." He mentioned his intention to oppose nuclear proliferation, and rebuked those countries that "...seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West." While he gave notice that he will lead America in a more multilateral direction, and seek to build alliances with countries across the globe, he also addressed those who questioned America's place in the global hierarchy after the failures of the last eight years, forcefully stating that "...we are ready to lead once more."

While he told the world that America will not apologize for its way of life, he told Americans that this way of life may need to change in the years ahead. He warned those who would turn to isolationist or protectionist policies that , "...we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect."

In the economic sphere, he again implicitly rebuked his predecessor, saying that recession was the partly the "...consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some." To those who only blame greedy bankers while reneging on responsibility themselves he warned that it is also the result of "...our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age."

He cut through the stale debate over the market system, explaining that "...the question before us (is not) whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched." He warned however, that "...without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control," something evident to everyone over the preceding months. Similarly, he stated that it is not "...whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works." He has promised to improve efficiency, cut useless programs, reform the military procurement process, and improve the transparency of how taxpayer money is spent, themes which shined through clearly in his speech.

Barack Obama swore his oath on President Lincoln's Bible, and invoked George Washington as an inspiration during his speech. He told Americans that time were tough and would continue to be so for a while, but that the turning point was now, and he would not falter in making the hard decisions necessary to improve the United States at home and abroad. It was an ambitious speech, and it set out an ambitious agenda. Only time will tell if his policies match his rhetoric, but if he keeps the promises made in his address, America and the world will have much to be thankful for in the coming years.