Absence of Leadership

At a time when action is needed to stave off a potential world recession, our leaders play standard partisan politics. It is a sad comment on the state of our country, when leadership prefers politics to solutions. While it is true that the reckless and deeply irresponsible economic policies of the Bush Administration have led us to this financial precipice, it is not the time to attempt political gain. Instead, the politicians in Washington need to overcome their petty differences; and, for once place the needs of the country ahead of their party goals.

The failure of the Bush Bailout plan, as modified by Congress, to pass in the House of Representatives reflects a total absence of national leadership at all levels. Since its initial proposal the Bush Administration has mishandled all events surrounding the plan. Secretary of Treasury Paulson may be an exceptionally competent investment banker, but his arrogant approach to the Hill has undercut any positive influence he could have wielded to pass the legislation. Chairman Bernancke of the Federal Reserve exacerbated conditions by his supercilious attitude and patronizing manner. George W. Bush, did what he has done since assuming the Presidency, i.e. make speeches demanding that things be done “his way or the highway”. The House leaders on both sides of the aisle were not able to revise the Bush Bailout Plan in a manner that would solve the imminent financial liquidity crisis of not only America, but the world. Their inability to assess the underlying conditions and then to devise creative solutions that would solve the short and long term problems is deeply troubling. The Senate leaders seem to be ready to vote on any bill that comes out of the House without consideration to the failed policies that developed the financial challenges that now confront this country.

The absence of leadership extends to the presidential candidates as well. Senator John McCain suspended his campaign to return to Washington to push through a solution, yet when he got there he remained in his campaign headquarters and made periodic telephone calls instead of going to the Hill to make things happen. Then an hour before the vote was taken, he claimed that his participation in the process virtually guaranteed that it would pass; when, instead it was ignobly defeated. On Saturday evening attending the Black Caucus Gala, Senator Barack Obama executed his leadership by doing nothing with this critical voting block. He could have easily asked a number of the attendees to separate briefly from the event to participate in a strategic session with him where he could have encouraged them to support the plan; sadly, he maintained his aloof stance and opted to be a non-leader. The result was that the most of the Black Caucus voted against the bill: even though the overwhelming number of their seats are safe in the upcoming election.

The politicians have tried to justify their actions by proclaiming that they are exercising the will of the people, as if that has had any meaning to them for decades. However, if they were truly trying to help their constituencies, a plan would have been devised and passed that actually solved the difficulties, which the current one unequivocally does not. What we need now is action that will solve the dilemmas of both Main Street and Wall Street and not more of the tired partisan politics that serve the desires of the special interests that control this country.

Gary Hamby

09/30/08