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The Audacity of Hope
Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
The Audacity of Hope is based on a keynote speech Barack Obama delivered at the 2004 Democratic Convention, which launched him into the spotlight of the nation. It contains many of the subjects of Obama’s 2008 campaign for the presidency.
- Anyone interested in American politics and international affairs
- Anyone who wants to find out about Obama’s core values
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th president of the United States. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree and working as a civil rights attorney. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago, served in the Illinois Senate and later represented Illinois in the US Senate. 2008 he became the first African American president and was re-elected in 2012.
In 2009 he was awarded the Nobel peace prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
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The Audacity of Hope
Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
- Read in 21 minutes
- Audio & text available
- Contains 13 key ideas
Synopsis
The Audacity of Hope is based on a keynote speech Barack Obama delivered at the 2004 Democratic Convention, which launched him into the spotlight of the nation. It contains many of the subjects of Obama’s 2008 campaign for the presidency.
Key idea 1 of 13
America is currently suffering from a lack of empathy.
The Republican party promotes an ownership society which tells its citizens “You’re on your own,” rather than, “We’re all in it together.”
This world-view reflects the lack of empathy that America is suffering from today. Instead of acknowledging each others’ needs and focusing on values shared by all Americans, an ownership society highlights individual differences and promotes conflict.
Sadly, it is the weakest groups in American society that suffer the most from this lack of empathy.
Would Americans accept the hopeless state of inner-city schools if they had to ask themselves how they would feel about their own children attending them?
Would CEOs consider raising their own wages while cutting back the company’s health-care benefits if they considered themselves equal to their employees?
Would politicians fight so fiercely over every issue across the political spectrum if they considered admitting that the opposing side might also have a valid point?
Many of America’s biggest problems would cease to exist if people would simply make more of an effort to see the world through each others’ eyes.
To create a better democracy and tilt politics toward the needs of weaker members of society, all Americans, whether they are politicians, businessmen or ordinary people, should commit to a stronger sense of empathy and ask each other more often “How would this make you feel?”
Key ideas in this title
- America is currently suffering from a lack of empathy.
- Politics are strongly influenced by money, interest groups and the media.
- The challenges of the globalized economy are mainly shouldered by ordinary workers.
- America needs a social security system and tax code which ensure risks and benefits are spread equally in society.
- Faith plays a key role in America’s diverse society, helping Americans overcome some of their most pressing problems.
- True equality can be reached through nondiscriminatory laws, scholarships and more emphasis on social justice.
- The problems of poor inner-city neighborhoods can be solved through education and equal opportunities.
- Because the structure of the family-unit has changed, America needs better school programs and more support for parents.
- A vibrant free market needs governmental regulation to ensure the same opportunities for everyone.
- To become more competitive, America must invest in education, science and technology.
- America should invest in alternative energy sources and higher fuel efficiency standards to become energy-independent.
- America’s 21st century foreign policy must focus on the current global battle of ideas and rely more on multilateral action.
- Final summary
