Ken Burns, the noted documentarian and historian, said Barack Obama’s inaugural speech today marks the beginning of America’s Third Act, with him describing the First Act extending from our founding to Lincoln and the end of slavery, and the Second Act extending from there to now, overseeing the fulfilling of America’s promise to all its citizens, regardless of race. And now the Third Act begins.
Indeed, President Obama’s speech did, to me, seem to mark an end to the politics of the last 30 years. When he said that the question was not of whether the government was too big or too small, it is a question of whether the government works, I let out a cheer. This has been my view for years. I never bought into the false choice presented us, that of a choice between a bloated welfare state and that of a libertarian minimalist federal government that only provided for our national defense. I believe our federal government can serve the people and be efficient, and the President has now echoed that belief, and ended, in my view, the dominant frame of the Conservative Era over the last 30 years. In ending that frame, he ended their era. It is now the Obama Era. The Era of the Practical. The Era of Pragmatism.
In the Conservative Era from 1980 until 2008, Republicans railed against big government and for small government. In the Obama Era that begins tonight, Progressives and liberals will rail against inefficient government that does not provide for the people. This is a devastating frame for the opposition. How do oppose efficiency? You can’t. It forces the opposition to oppose the efficient programs being funded on their merits. And that is just fine. It long past time that we have an honest debate about providing healthcare and social security to our citizens based on the idea of it alone. And if you oppose that idea, good. Let’s debate it, finally, and honestly.
Before, Republicans could hide their opposition to social programs by railing against spending. They would say “Gee, it sounds like a good idea but we can’t afford it.” Well, if spending is being cut elsewhere through the elimination of programs and departments unneeded or that have failed in their original task, that excuse loses water. Republicans will be forced to oppose the merits of the program. Or they can argue they have a more efficient way.
Efficiency is the new frame. Efficient government is the new goal. Not a smaller government. Not a bigger government. A government that provides for our common defense, and our common health, and our common security.
The Obama Era begins. At long last.
