@dpworkin
Did America condemn the brutal Turkish suppression of the Kurds during the 90’s?
no of course not, yet Chemical Ali was roundly condemned. America has a morally subjective slant, vociferous when condemning the enemy of it’s allies but fairly mute and sullen about similar or far worse atrocities performed by her allies.
The American government is an institution, Obama is a player, he is of use to this institution, he is not a radical force for change, that isn’t how it works….....health care reform will never happen in America, the British National Health Service was a trade off for the commitment and death of millions of working class people in WWI and II, as were many other noteworthy reforms to education, introduction of school meals, state pensions, social housing and so on.
Obama will accomplish absolutely nothing of substance during his tenure in office, he will tinker with legislation and such like, over exaggerate it’s significance and then when the Republicans return the Capitalist machine will quietly be adjusted back to normal, Business as usual.