Bono had a piece in the NY Times today.  It was interesting because it gives a nice insight into the liberal thought process without the hate and personal attacks that you often see.  The thing that stood out to me was that even while being supportive of Obama, it was weak and damning to a point.

To start the essay, he points out that Obama’s win of the Nobel Prize was not based on accomplishment but based on projection.

There’s a sense in some quarters of these not-so-United States that Norway, Europe and the World haven’t a clue about the real President Obama; instead, they fixate on a fantasy version of the President, a projection of what they hope and wish he is, and what they wish America to be.

However, Bono thinks the “virtual Obama” is the real Obama and the basis for this opinion is a part of the speech given at the UN last month.  The key passage for Bono is:

“We will support the Millennium Development Goals, and approach next year’s summit with a global plan to make them a reality. And we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time.”

The millennium goals are a set of guidelines that according to Bono are to reduce “extreme” poverty.  Of course that is just one part (the whole list is below), but it is a part that is near to his heart.  The remaining parts of the three “extremes” that need to be addressed are ideology and climate.  If only these three extremes could be eliminated, the world would be a better place.  Based on Obama’s words, Bono believes the changes needed can happen as long as there is action behind them.

Now, I think this is all wishful thinking and not just because Obama has not shown he is big on follow through.  The words are getting old to me as the results are few and far between.

But to the three extremes:

• Poverty:  I believe that the root to the poverty problem is not a lack of wealth but a lack of opportunity.  People going about and doing what they are best at … chasing a profit motive will create more wealth than any other method.  The biggest barrier to opportunity is the government systems that empower few and funnel wealth to those who do not earn it.  As long as there are dictators and feudal lords who can demand wealth from those around them at the point of a gun, there will be limited opportunity.  Considering the make up of the majority of governments at the UN, I do not expect that much will truley change in this area.  There may be wealth transfer but it will not make its way to the people who need it.
• Ideology: When most people think of extreme ideology, they think left-right.  As much as I disagree with the opposition, the real problems in this area are outside of the US.  Currently, radical Islam would be the best example of this in my mind.  Those who disagree and refuse to submit are executed.  The problem is not one of understanding, it is of acceptance.  In this area, the US is not the problem.  Until I see true moderates in this area outside of the country, I do not expect there will be any progress regardless of who the President is.  In the end, we are not the ones saying submit or die so it is only logical to assume the ones saying it must change or be defeated.
• Climate:  If you have been reading this blog you know my thoughts on man made climate change/global warming.  The bottom line is I think it is bad science.  the planet warms and cools over time and we can do nothing to stop it.  The fact that the theories have to keep changing reinforces my point.  Let’s get to where we can acurately predict the weather a few years out before we start making dramatic changes to society to prevent a potential coming problem.

The entire list of Millennium Development Goals are:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
• Achieve universal primary education;
• Promote gender equality and empower women;
• Reduce child mortality;
• Improve maternal health;
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
• Ensure environmental sustainability; and,
• Build a global partnership for development assistance.

The actual problems that Bono see are ones that will need to be solved by people and not governments.  The three extremes are problems of the world and people and will not be solved by decree.  They will only be solved, where they can be solved, by a billion small individual actions.  No matter what Obama’s actions are, or what the UN does, the end result will be minimal change if the real change does not come from the bottom up.

- FOP Vermillion

Tags: Bono, climate change, Economy, education, Extreme, global warming, Liberal, obama, Politics, Poverty, UN