Obamamania is out of control. As evidenced by many a blog posted here and blatant personal support of the conduct of the campaign, the proposed cabinet members (minus Gov. Richardson (sad)) and their global view of the role of the executive branch, I do not think that the dawn of Obama warrants dinner ware, gold plated coins and/or bobble head dolls. Our president elect still has 16 days until he is officially our commander in chief, and is slated to face an unprecedented fiscal crisis, as well as, an unbelievably destructive atmosphere in the very heart of the Middle East. He must handle both, of course, while maintaining atmospheric levels of expectations of him by a general electorate sickened by the past 8 years of outright executive mismanagement. Expectations, that evidently, have resulted in the mass production and marketing of almost bizarre first family merchandise, the likes of which rival that available to us screaming New Kids on the Block fans in the early nineties.
I find the foil of the merchandising of this president (driven, at least initially, by the brilliant minds that brought us the campaign that will change how politicking will be conducted forever) to the overall movement toward thrift in American’s compelling. Individual spending sank to a new low during the last holiday season as personal savings and responsibility for financial matters became the new black. It appears, perhaps, that the excessive lust for ‘stuff’ is starting to moderate with the incumbent presidency, just as that same incumbent president’s face is appearing on endless amounts of such non-essential stuff.
It’s true, we all want to be a part of history- and this election is the closest those in my generation have come to a truly historical era. Yet, the commemoration with random stuff is reflective of a period where our contribution to the American adventure could not be made; we were too busy distracting ourselves at the mall, buying stuff. I plan on holding onto the button that was fastened to my purse throughout the campaign, yet I do think that our leaders need to earn the privilege of having their faces on our coins.
I find the foil of the merchandising of this president (driven, at least initially, by the brilliant minds that brought us the campaign that will change how politicking will be conducted forever) to the overall movement toward thrift in American’s compelling. Individual spending sank to a new low during the last holiday season as personal savings and responsibility for financial matters became the new black. It appears, perhaps, that the excessive lust for ‘stuff’ is starting to moderate with the incumbent presidency, just as that same incumbent president’s face is appearing on endless amounts of such non-essential stuff.
It’s true, we all want to be a part of history- and this election is the closest those in my generation have come to a truly historical era. Yet, the commemoration with random stuff is reflective of a period where our contribution to the American adventure could not be made; we were too busy distracting ourselves at the mall, buying stuff. I plan on holding onto the button that was fastened to my purse throughout the campaign, yet I do think that our leaders need to earn the privilege of having their faces on our coins.
I am fascinated (and terrified) to see what the first 100 days, year, term of President Obama will bring; not because I doubt him or his agenda, but because I am dubious of any sort of rapid change in the partisan behaviors foddered since the last genuinely American era- the cultural revolution of the 1960s. I want the public to support the president elect, not in purchasing idols from which to worship (and drink), but rather in active engagement in our democracy and shared responsibility for ensuring the future of our nation.
For the record, however, I do support keeping bobble heads.
For the record, however, I do support keeping bobble heads.
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