Why do so many like President Obama?

Five months into the Obama administration, both friends and foes alike continue to ponder what makes President Obama so popular.

The answer is both complex and simple. His action is seemingly non-stop, his energy is awe inspiring. Every day something that he says or does dominates the headlines.

Knowing what some of us have come to realize about the nature of our popular culture, it comes as no surprise that our president is a hero to some — and the ultimate villain to others. Still, the most basic question that lingers is why?

Most rational people should realize by now that this nation is in serious trouble. Our economy is in shambles, our enemies remain cunning and ruthless. I can hardly imagine any sane person who would want to change places with the president given the sheer scope of the crisis President Obama faces.

The key to understanding his most vocal critics comes down to understanding basic elements of human nature. It is quite a simple matter to be an expert on something when you don’t really have any actual responsibility to fix the problem in the first place.

How often have you heard someone say something this: “All they have to do is score a touchdown” or “If they hit a home run, we would have won.” More times than not, the people making these statements could do neither themselves. But they can talk about those feats.

In short, we have become a nation of experts — experts at talking about things only a handful of us actually have the talents or ability to solve.

That is only one aspect of our problem. Too may of our most vocal citizens actually know far less than we proclaim they do.

Another angle to consider is “self interest.” Stop and ask yourself this question: How many of the president’s critics have something personal to gain if the Obama administration’s policies prove to be ineffective? I can hardly imagine some of the folks who yammer about the president say, “Well, yes, he was right and we were wrong.”

Don’t hold your breath for that one, because it is not going to happen.

There is already a small group of Republicans trying to position themselves to run for the presidency in 2012. Do you really expect any of them to praise the president for any decision that he makes? Plainly that would not be in their own self interest, now would it? Never forget the fact that both sides play politics, and although everyone will claim it, in reality, no one has absolute control over moral integrity or good ideas.

Tiger Woods may very well be the best golfer playing the game right now, but do you really expect the other golfers on the tour to proclaim, “Yes, he’s so much better than we are.” It’s not gonna happen, folks.

Perhaps the most simple aspect of Obama’s popularity comes down to his approach to solving matters at hand.

The American people are sick and tired of being scared into compliance. The folks who sell the notion that we have to be afraid of everything have done their job too well. What President Obama seems to offer America instead is hope based on mutual cooperation, not only among each other, but with other nations as well.

This notion is such a radical departure to what we have been taught to believe that it scares some people, most especially the merchants of fear.

As we enter a new era, one in which this nation’s challenges seem more awesome and compelling than ever, we have to determine our collective course.

Whether you agree with the president on everything or not, one must remember that his success is our success and his failure is a failure for all of us as well.

We can’t afford to be fooled again. We cannot allow ourselves to be paralzyed by invented fears, so much so that we do nothing positive to solve our collective problems, and as such, die in our tracks.

John M. Fisher of Danville is a businessman, documentary filmmaker and freelance writer, and is the former bureau chief for KDFW, a CBS affiliate in Fort Worth, Texas. You may contact him at .