Promised changes in politics not happening

In President Obama's weekly address, he claimed that his election was based on a desire for change in policy and in part a desire for change in politics. Recent declines in polls regarding who would vote for him today and the favorability of his policies indicate that the reverse was true. People voted for him because they desired the change in politics he promised.

After nine months in office, politics have not improved: bills are written in Congress by members of a single party, votes are taken before representatives have time to discern what they are voting for, lobbyists abound in the federal government, elected officials declare the opposition is lying by omission when their own ideas contain serious omissions, and high-level officials fail to pay their personal taxes legally but are confirmed into office. Obama has failed to deliver.

Declarations that politics have not changed because of obstructionists are outrageous given that there has been no attempt at consensus in the House. Intentionally excluding one group from negotiations eliminates the possibility of consensus. The political change hoped for with Obama's election has failed from power-induced disdain, not obstructionism.

Robbin Rekemeyer

Cedar Rapids