L’ultimo pezzo di Michael Barone ci offre la possibilità di cogliere due spunti di riflessione utili sulla politica di Obama. Nella prima parte dell’editoriale, l’opinionista si dedica alla strategia economica adottata dalla Casa Bianca nell’ambito del processo di rilancio del sistema statunitense. L’aumento della spesa pubblica coincide con l’incremento della pressione fiscale e ciò non sembra essere frutto di una “misura-tampone” dovuta alla crisi congiunturale, quanto piuttosto di una decisione culturale sulla base di riflessioni concernenti la natura strutturale stessa del sistema.
«This is apparent in the budget he has presented for the next fiscal year and its projections for the years to come. Government spending is scheduled to rise as a percentage of the economy. This will be accomplished by raising taxes and, even more, by borrowing that will double the national debt in five years and nearly triple it in 10 years. This trajectory can be altered in the future, but much of it is set in stone by the $3 trillion-plus deficit that will, give or take a few hundred billion, be produced by the budget voted this year».
In secondo luogo, Barone si sofferma sulla politica estera democratica, solo apparentemente più europea.
«Abroad, Obama has eschewed American “arrogance” and embraced the European model of diplomatic engagement and avoidance of confrontation. He argues that if we show “persistence” in apologizing for America’s past and willingness to negotiate with Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and shake hands with Hugo Chavez, they will come to recognize our good will and make concessions they would otherwise refuse. Perhaps. But one recalls that this was the European response to the genocide in its own back yard by Serbia’s Slobodan Milosevic and that he was brought to justice only by the force of American arms. That lesson has not been lost on Obama who, for all his rhetoric, has ordered troop increases in Afghanistan despite the refusal of Europeans to do more».
