Obama not specific on how to reach goals

I was questioned after the town hall meeting which Barack Obama spoke at but I was at somewhat of a loss for words. The man asked if being present had made my decision certain. I answered honestly that I was still undecided but that his speech had “made me think.” Apart from that, I did not know what else to add.

I realize now that my hesitancy arose partially from my disappointment with the words of the great orator.

The slogan “Yes We Can” has already become cornier to me than the infamous “Keep Cool with Coolidge.” Sitting in the bleachers of the balcony with my friends, I waited with almost baited breath to take part in an event that would become part of a historic campaign. The entire speech was an anticlimax to me though. His presentation was powerful; his message, canned.

He’s a thought-provoking candidate in the issues he raises, but he isn’t too clear in how he plans to accomplish his goals. His ideas on education were frustrating: he’s going to give teachers a higher salary and get parents to make their children more involved. How? Education is right reserved to the state and it’s the teacher’s job to ask the parents to make their kids more responsible. But in the end, it’s up to the kids to be active.

Henderson Trefzger spoke against apathy in politics before Sen. Obama arrived, but wouldn’t the greater problem be apathy in the rising generation toward its own education? How on earth can the government give an education to teenagers who aren’t willing to make the effort to take advantage of the opportunity? Sure, a lot of kids graduate with future aspirations, whether they mean to get vocational or four year college degrees, but some hardly care. Senator Obama cannot solve a problem without the acquiescence of those involved.

Moreover, the senator failed to answer the debt question satisfactorily. “How do you plan to deal with the national deficit?” My seat mates and I groaned as he sauntered through his response before actually answering the question, which, by the time he did it, was not very memorable.

In short, I came away from the event not being utterly convinced. I left the familiar building feeling let down and thwarted in my desire to become more actively and energetically involved in the political system. I may be jaded or cynical in my readiness to criticize the shortcomings of a presidential candidate who I consider an amazing opportunity for America, but all the same, as Senator Obama was so quick to point out, he’s been running for president for 15 months. Maybe it’s time to get together a new slogan and think through the policies he’s running on.

Morgan JonesHickory