Inauguration

He fumbled the oath and it was kinda cute. Okay, I'm feeling it now. I'm a little sentimental. My emotionalism is overtaking my rationalism...

until he opened his mouth.

"…because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents." EF - Not. What happened to the independent powers of the states and the limited federal government that the constitution established?

"These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights." EF - Yes, I've said this before. I don't think it's that far off, either. But don't call me a cynic--a realist, man.

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." EF - Oh, yeah, like the abortion issue?

"…the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." EF - I don't recall where Jesus said that all have equality on this earth in any regard, whether wealth, education, ambition, knowledge, happiness, or sorrow; only that it is fleeting and won't be an issue in God's ultimate reality.

"Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom." EF - These are the ones Obama wants to simultaneously reward and suppress by establishing an economy of "equality."

"...lay a new foundation for growth." Bastiat - Liberty is an act of faith in God and in His work. EF - That is, God already laid the foundation.

"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage...
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end." EF - By establishing an economy that does not allow people to act based on natural motivation and incentives, people will be less and less able to react appropriately with new ideas and responses to "necessity and common purpose." It's just not logical to think that the government can take more power and not infringe on the rights, liberties, and autonomy of individuals. As for the accusation of being "cynical," Mr. Obama fails to understand that by allowing people more liberty, you in fact demonstrate your faith in people to do what is right, to govern themselves, and to respond to the needs of others and not need an over-active government to do it.

One thing he was right about: we do need a new era of responsibility. We do have duties, as individuals and as a nation. But it is wrong to confuse the two. The hard thing to acknowledge is that our individual duties extend further than our national duties do. The hard task to attempt comes from our personal responsibility to be wise and compassionate in our actions instead of letting our government take over. God did not give everyday individuals rational minds with the intention that they'd use it once every four years and let their democratically elected executive official take over the rest of the time.

And there's way more to say about this too... hopefully people won't fail to keep discussing it.