open Democracy News Analysis - Change we don't really need, Kanishk Tharoor - Comments

Kanishk Tharoor on "Change we don't really need"

Kanishk Tharoor — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:19:57 +0000

Mukunda Kattel, I agree with you completely. I'm hardly an Obama-sceptic. Change.gov, however, remains distressing for the reasons I've outlined.

Mukunda Kattel on "Change we don't really need"

Mukunda Kattel — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:10:54 +0000

If we want change in the course of US politics, and believe change is possible, shouldn’t one be hopeful of any offer or promise made towards that end when an alternative is not available? Are not idle ynicism and idealism the same in effect?

Obama deserves to be criticised constantly, but he also needs to find a response to irking institutions, lurking cynics and those worst hit by the failed and hegemonic policies of the past. To offer something as good, or even best, is I think not only a pragmatic response but a required choice at this point of time.

Lawrence Efana on "Change we don't really need"

Lawrence Efana — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:44:14 +0000

Are you not ideologically tilted in these observations? And when it comes to the rest of it, are you not a bit premature the way you see and venture to preemptively add flesh to an "unusual" man's political style? Isn't politics an "act" too?

I never will fail seeing "political terms of office" as "periods" of experiment, which would contrain my comments with this particular experiment period itself not yet even in its first phase - though quite peacefully struggling to reconcile ...

Think deeply about the state of matters, complex as it is. Good to begin with giving credit for the quick responses seen. For the individual, the team, and the economy - with both Wall/Main Street challenges unpleasant inheritance, a word of praise [reasonably critical though] might be what is most needed. Styles are needed to effectively weather the storms and it appears "the person and the team" flexibly have them and can generate more of them, with electoral promises in mind!

Lawrence Efana [Finland]

Anthony Barnett on "Change we don't really need"

Anthony Barnett — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:29:47 +0000

I hope you have posted a link to this on the Change.gov site!

Change we don't really need, Kanishk Tharoor

Kanishk Tharoor — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:05:31 +0000

The Obama campaign pioneered the use of 21st century social networking in American electoral politics. Its My.BarackObama.com website was a small miracle of technology and tact, building a platform that at once spread information, enlarged the supporter base, directed energy and, most importantly, raised money. Barack's Twitter feed kept thousands of supporters (and foes) abreast of his latest speeches and rallies. Obama's campaign even deployed text messages on its path to victory, considerably defter and more modern than McCain's much maligned robo-calls.

I got my last "tweet" from Obama on the morning of the 5th: "We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion. All of this happened because of you. Thanks". My.BarackObama.com now offers it services as a blank and vague portal for "local organising"; activity has slowed markedly on the site. Electoral victory put an end to the campaigning purpose of such tools, which in the previous months had been meticulous in their direction. Once the means achieve their desired end, they end themselves.

Yet the President-elect rolled out a new website, Change.gov, aimed at making the process of transition more transparent. A noble intention, of course, but when that intention is bolstered by such saccharine and cringe-worthy blog posts as this, it seems risible at best, propagandist at worst. We don't need the organ of the President-elect to tell us that "Words like 'brilliant,' 'sharp,' 'energetic,' and 'visionary' are coming from across the political spectrum in praise for President-elect Barack Obama's choices to lead his economic team." As a friend pointed out, much of the site reads like official Chinese Communist Party newspapers.

It is disappointing that the energy and dynamism of the previous months seems lost on Change.gov. In the hands of Obama's campaign, the internet was perfectly harnessed to build momentum and galvanise support. His new venture on the internet is on the path to becoming a reminder of the stultifying effect of power.