Dictatorial Change Makers
As an historian of the Middle East and Europe and as a reader of a wide spectrum of other places and times the emphasis is frequently upon political leaders who changed their own times and the future. More times than not these change makers were dictators. Caesar, Napoleon, Peter the Great, Louis XIV, Oliver Cromwell, Frederick William the Elector of Prussia, Hitler, Stalin, Moa, Nasser, Saddam Hussein altered their nations and the times they thrived.
Power and its exercise is a fit subject of study. However much one might despise these men and their actions, one cannot avoid a certain level of respectful awe of their accomplishments. Frequently such leaders emerge out of total or near obscurity to impose their will upon their historical stage. Their boldness usually knew no bounds as they brutally exercised their power. Heads rolled, institutions perished, new ones materialized to enhance their control and aggrandizement.
Early in the recent American presidential campaign Michelle Obama gave a speech that cited a litany of perceived wrongs and said after each one, “Barack will not allow that.” Minimum knowledge of the American constitution confirms that an American president does not have the authority to accomplish some of her claims. Such changes require a legislative process as well as media and public scrutiny.
Unquestioning support from his legislative majority removed that possible obstacle to President Obama’s vision of the changes he intended to impose upon the nation. Masterfully, he capitalized upon his popularity and congressional majority to launch a blitzkrieg to legislation and Presidential decrees before the ardor for him could cool. The massive size of the bills he submitted and the short deadlines for congressional action resulted in unprecedented changes in an unprecedented short period of time.
Virtually every aspect of American life changed within the first six months of President Obama’s term. Time will determine whether these dramatic changes will prove laudable or derisible. Either way, he has made an unmatched alteration of American life. Posterity will judge his audacious emergence and exercise of power.
As an historian of the Middle East and Europe and as a reader of a wide spectrum of other places and times the emphasis is frequently upon political leaders who changed their own times and the future. More times than not these change makers were dictators. Caesar, Napoleon, Peter the Great, Louis XIV, Oliver Cromwell, Frederick William the Elector of Prussia, Hitler, Stalin, Moa, Nasser, Saddam Hussein altered their nations and the times they thrived.
Power and its exercise is a fit subject of study. However much one might despise these men and their actions, one cannot avoid a certain level of respectful awe of their accomplishments. Frequently such leaders emerge out of total or near obscurity to impose their will upon their historical stage. Their boldness usually knew no bounds as they brutally exercised their power. Heads rolled, institutions perished, new ones materialized to enhance their control and aggrandizement.
Early in the recent American presidential campaign Michelle Obama gave a speech that cited a litany of perceived wrongs and said after each one, “Barack will not allow that.” Minimum knowledge of the American constitution confirms that an American president does not have the authority to accomplish some of her claims. Such changes require a legislative process as well as media and public scrutiny.
Unquestioning support from his legislative majority removed that possible obstacle to President Obama’s vision of the changes he intended to impose upon the nation. Masterfully, he capitalized upon his popularity and congressional majority to launch a blitzkrieg to legislation and Presidential decrees before the ardor for him could cool. The massive size of the bills he submitted and the short deadlines for congressional action resulted in unprecedented changes in an unprecedented short period of time.
Virtually every aspect of American life changed within the first six months of President Obama’s term. Time will determine whether these dramatic changes will prove laudable or derisible. Either way, he has made an unmatched alteration of American life. Posterity will judge his audacious emergence and exercise of power.
No comments:
Post a Comment