Romney's 'Nostalgia' is Ill-Suited to Reality of a Fast-Changing World
(Die Zeit, Germany)
"Mitt
Romney's candidacy and the world view of his political camp suffer from a fundamental
evil that represents a danger for the future: the spirit of nostalgia. ... Compared
to this retrograde policy and despite his flaws, Barack Obama embodies an aware,
intelligent and engaged America. Unlike four years ago, he is no longer supported
by worldwide hopes for his victory, but concerns in the event of his
defeat."
Should
we really concern ourselves with this American election? Obama's star has faded. His opponent
Mitt Romney looks like Barbie’s boyfriend Ken, who has gone into politics. The
United States is certainly no longer the center of the world.
Yet this
time, the choice is far more momentous than it was four years ago. The 2008
election was largely dominated by the legacy of the Bush years and Barack Obama
as a figure; it was the election of the first Black president. Ideologically,
it was much less charged. Now there are two philosophies confronting one another.
There is Obama’s reform project, which aims to make the U.S. a "more normal"
and "less American" land: away from its high-strain role as global
policeman, unfettered capitalism and extreme inequality. That is in contrast
with the Republican program to dismantle the state from within and widen the
nation's global reach: it is not about less of America, but more of America
than ever.
The
Republicans in no way resemble a party of oddballs, the likes of which we have in
Europe. On one central point, their criticism of Obama is fully justified: no serious
effort to get the debt problem under control has been seen under this president.
Despite that, Mitt Romney's candidacy and the world view of his political camp
suffer from a fundamental evil that represents a danger for the future: the
spirit of nostalgia.
According
to the prevailing Republican doctrine, the problems confronting the United
States are the result of a kind of political nervous breakdown and loss of
self-confidence, which would be resolved with a reawakening to its own
strength. Instead of soft diplomacy, what is needed is more leadership, which
would quickly bring Iran to heel over the nuclear dispute. Instead of meager social
programs, less state intervention would restore the American dream. But these
are fantasies. America's problem is not a betrayal of its ideals, but a new
reality. We live in a world of states that can be no longer controlled by a
superpower. A society based only on survival of the most prepared won't work
anymore. One cannot simply wish this away.
Posted by
Worldmeets.US
Compared
to this retrograde policy and despite his flaws, Barack Obama embodies an aware,
intelligent and engaged America. Unlike four years ago, he is no longer supported
by worldwide hopes for his victory, but concerns in the event of his defeat.
