A very old saying but one that rings true as we follow President Obama’s first few days in office. He has used the mighty pen to reverse several policies of previous administrations and also to authorize many new, some say long overdue, initiatives.
Here’s a collection of his recent ones:
1. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
This bill strengthens the equal pay for equal work rights.
2. Presidential Environmental Memorandum
Allow states to seek tougher auto emissions standards that the federal level. And pave the way for stricker fuel efficiency standards for cars by 2011.
3. Order to close Guantanamo within a year
Done on his second full day at the job, Obama showed everyone that he keeps his promises. The legacy of Guantanamo has been an incident free period since 9/11. Now the government will have to employ other ways of gathering their intelligence. Hopefully he gives them the tools they need to do this also.
4. Order reversing abortion funds ban
Now federal funds can be used to export America’s culture of death.
5. Memorandum on transparency and open government
Presidential appointees must pledge not to participate “in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment” or accepting “employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the two years before the date of my appointment.”
The pen is also easier to wield than the sword but make no mistake its effects can be just as far reaching if not more so. I would argue that more responsibility is needed in wielding the pen, especially the pen of our 44th president. Some of the big government issues we have today has happened because a group of people thought some policy was a great idea. And while they meant us no harm, harm it has caused. While we can’t see into the future, wisdom must prevail, questions asked and due process given so that we can implement the best initiatives that will affect future generations.
