Carpe Diem Lost

To borrow from Obama’s words when addressing big oil, and government policies:

"We do not appreciate what we consider to be a ridiculous spectacle."

I’ve mentioned it in my blog before and I'll probably mention again in the future.

One needs to set goals.

Without goals, your chances of achieving anything are slim.

Government bailouts, shame on you political speeches against the status quo do not instill hope, confidence or change.

Now, to his credit, and in line with my point. Obama did have a goal to pass health care reform. And for better or worse, he and congress did it. It was on their agenda, and it got done.

Great leaders not only seize the moment - but help define it.

Reagan did it with both the cold war through his “peace through strength” and “tear down this wall”.

Kennedy did it with his speech about the space race, arms race and leaders of the
free world speech.

Here are some excerpts which amazingly fit in with America as it is today!

These are extraordinary times. And we face an extraordinary challenge. Our strength as well as our convictions have imposed upon this nation the role of leader in freedom's cause. No role in history could be more difficult or more important. We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves-that is our only commitment to others. No friend, no neutral and no adversary should think otherwise. We are not against any man-or any nation-or any system-except as it is hostile to freedom. Nor am I here to present a new military doctrine, bearing any one name or aimed at any one area. I am here to promote the freedom doctrine...

...examine where we are strong and where we are not, where we may succeed and where we may not. Now it is time to take longer strides-time for a great new American enterprise-time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in (insert any desired goal here - Kennedy used Space) achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.

I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources required for such leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or managed our resources and our time so as to insure their fulfillment.

Obama missed what easily could have been his “Kennedy” moment.

Challenge the nation, the people of this great country and more importantly Congress to rid themselves of oil dependency by the end of the decade. (2020).

The moment was, and still is, there. Floating in the gulf. Threatening our very nation’s environment, economy, and our dependency on foreign oil.

The moment is here to change big business and even foreign influence and change the politics of money and even the military and militias all over the world.

And everyday for the past 2 – 3 weeks we have failed to seize the moment and define change.

Instead we continue the same ridiculous spectacle of politics and special interests, slapping each other on the wrists and saying shame on you.

Talk about a fumbled return.