Oh, Never Mind

One of the promises that helped elect Mr. Obama is noted below (from change.gov—office of the President Elect).

The Obama-Biden Plan

Barack Obama has led efforts to reform government both in the Illinois State Senate and in the United States Senate. He will bring this commitment to making government work for the people, not the special interests, to the White House. Obama will ensure Washington works for the people, not the special interests.

Shine the Light on Washington Lobbying

Centralize Ethics and Lobbying Information for Voters: Obama and Biden will create a centralized Internet database of lobbying reports, ethics records, and campaign finance filings in a searchable, sortable and downloadable format.

Require Independent Monitoring of Lobbying Laws and Ethics Rules: Obama and Biden will use the power of the presidency to fight for an independent watchdog agency to oversee the investigation of congressional ethics violations so that the public can be assured that ethics complaints will be investigated.

End the Practice of Writing Legislation Behind Closed Doors: As president, Barack Obama will restore the American people's trust in their government by making government more open and transparent. Obama will work to reform congressional rules to require all legislative sessions, including committee mark-ups and conference committees, to be conducted in public. By making these practices public, the American people will be able to hold their leaders accountable for wasteful spending and lawmakers won't be able to slip favors for lobbyists into bills at the last minute.

While one could argue that the financial crisis demands immediate action, it is also true that the depth of the challenge is a barometer of the depth of our President's commitment to openness, as well as a sign of the depth of one's integrity. A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:7

The Economic Stimulus Package

Yesterday's Chicago Tribune had a strongly worded editorial rebuking Cook County for seeking to add debt to fund current services. The idea was that local government needs to "pay as it goes." Where is the corresponding editorial seeking such restraint on the federal level?

Currently, our nation is awakening with a hangover from an extended party with debt. Millions drank deeply from the bottle of easy credit, and now we all have a headache. The solution on Capital Hill seems to be more of the same. Rather than individuals borrowing billions they cannot afford to pay back, it will be Washington borrowing trillions of dollars that will just as impossible to repay.

Like a person with a hangover taking a few drinks, it will only postpone the inevitable painful hangover.