A sizable portion of America experienced buyer's remorse when they didn't get what they bargained for in President Obama. A definition of
buyer's remorse is the sense of regret after having made a
purchase. It may stem from fear of making the wrong
choice, guilt over extravagance, or a suspicion of having been overly
influenced by the seller. Obama sold the American voter in 2008 on Hope and Change. During the last four years many of those people that voted for him realized they were hoodwinked and bamboozled.
America is a nation of good intentions and hopeful people. In 2008 voters wanted to believe in something bigger than themselves and they got caught up in the emotion surrounding Obama's campaign. America's vote for Obama can be likened to an emotional purchase, not a thoughtful one. Obama voters ignored dangerous signs such as who were Obama's mentors and friends. They accepted platitudes such as Hope and Change without asking what that really means in policy terms.
Obama saw ready buyers and played them. Each buyer/voter placed their own lofty aspirations into Obama's rhetoric and dreamed with others: "yes we can." For the poor minority he offered hope that America was full of possibility, and by the way, he would see to it that the rich paid more in taxes. For the white liberal he offered a way for them to assuage their guilt feelings for America's past racism. For the peaceniks he offered a nonbelligerent America ready to apologize for past warmongering. For Hollywood and the Entertainment movers and shakers he offered a grand stage to show how much they cared. For young people he offered a hip, new, feel-good cause and their support validated them as member of the in-crowd. And so on, through many American population segments and many aspirations.
(For those that didn't get caught up in the emotion and wanted to be thoughtful about this important "purchase," well, they were clinging to their guns and their religion.)
Now in 2012 we have many Americans with a serious case of buyer's remorse. It is understandable. Their particular aspirations for Hope and Change have been unrealized. There is regret at having bought into the rhetoric and a suspicion that they were overly influenced by the seller.
I want to let those voters know that it is okay to feel buyer's remorse. And you can feel better by returning your purchase! Send it back and get a new item.
