Democrat for President

I find it ironic that when I'm in Florence and the school workload is supposed to be "easy", I've been to two outside lectures, a war memorial, and churches galore- things I would never do in a regular JMU semester.  I actually really like it and I feel like I'm more aware of current world events here than I am at home. Thanks JMU :)

My most recent scholastic endeavor was a lecture by Bob Shrum on, "The Obama Presidency One Year Later". I thought since I was learning so much at European politics, I should stay current with my own country's political goings-ons. 

We arrived and were ushered into the room Sala Luca Giordano decorated with "The Apotheosis of the Medici" in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, which was once the residence of the famous Medici family of Florence. It was brilliant. The lecture itself, not so brilliant. Bob Shrum is a very good orator, however, the lecture was not about President Obama at all.  He talked mainly about the elections that had happened in the states the previous day.  He basically only discussed the outcomes of the elections based on America's view of President Obama.  He never really said much more about President Obama besides the idea that Americans are not satisfied all the way with him because they haven't seen enough progression out of the economic depression in their own lives.

 As the speech when on, I found out I had inadvertently stepped into a Democratic rally.  I felt very out of place and highly outnumbered as a moderate Republican. But it was a good leaning experience to see both sides of the scale; to see how the other side thinks.  Though I think we need to stop seeing it as "sides" because thats when things get nasty and egos get in the way.  Our entire political system has been stopped up because people can't get over their party associations to just get some legislation out there that actually does something for people.  

For example:  Health care bills are flying around congress willy nilly for people to sign just so the Democrats can get it out there while they are the party in power. Maybe if the two groups actually wrote the plan together it would have a little of what everyone needed. Also, they could figure out a way to have universal health care that wasn't universally awful if they found a way for the National government to NOT be in charge of it.  That way it could be efficient, actually have a competitive incentive for doctors, and not bleed our country dry of funds.  Just a thought, Congress. 

Thank you for obliging my political rant.  I promise you an amusing story about Prague next time.  A Domani!