Now Obama has to deliver and what form will that take?

"Yes, George W. Bush’s status as the most disliked man ever to occupy the White House shows that America was not worthy of him. And attacks on Bush gave aid and comfort to his enemies — unlike the firehose of abuse that will be directed against President Obama, which will of course be an expression of true patriotism." -Paul Krugman

In this election, the differences were greater, in terms of talk. A burden of proof is now being lowered onto Obama's back and I hope he is equal to the task of holding it high. My choice to vote for Obama was never in much question, but it was not easy. I had and still have my doubts, but I also have hope. He is change, that is for sure, but a great wind has already swept aside much that has stood the test of time until now in this country, will America like what Obama builds in it's place? It did not have to be this way...

Bush was put in place as President two years after I graduated high school. Much of my adult life so far has been lived under the shadow of an administration that flouted the Geneva Conventions and sunk our military deep into a place that will now forever be a part of America's story, for history will not forget blood for oil. It will not forget that we used "Shock and Awe" to win, a fireworks show on CNN that blew up children for the enrichment of the few. Eight years of rule that actively fought against the idea of global warming, doing everything in their power to tear down environmental regulations as fast as ink could dry. Eight years of abstinence education that does not work and the global gag rule.

The Bush administration has been running a torture program for several years now. Water Boarding makes your body and mind think you are dying by the simulation of drowning conditions. If done improperly, it can kill. The people we sent to third world hell holes via "Extraordinary Rendition" had far worse things done to them. Yes, the School of Americas existed before the Bush administration and South America suffered it's travesties, but the switch to doing such things openly left me cold with horror, for it seemed like the final step in a long march that started thirty plus years ago from all that I have experienced and read. It seems we have been given a small reprieve from that particular endgame, for now.

We were supposed to be a symbol of better things, a better way, but somewhere between three cars for every two people, Walmart and the boogeyman of "The Poor", America started to lose it's way. Owning the next big thing (cellphones, plastic surgery, plasma TV's) became the goal, being richer became more important than being more human. We cannot go back to the old ways, but we can blaze a new trail to greater times and a better way for most.

It has often been said in more artful ways than I am capable of this day that the Democrats and the Republicans are merely two heads of the same snake. I think in many ways this is true, yet if we can but harness it, the power of Americans to heal the wounds of this country is within our grasp. Congress, the true power in our Republic, only has 535 members and they know they are outnumbered, so they try to use fear and pointless wedge issues to divide and deceive the citizens of this nation. Let us put an end to such things. They have corporate lobbyists circling them right now but we can be a more powerful voice in their ears. Now that you have cast your political vote, do not stop. Vote with your wallet and most importantly, vote for a better world with your heart and your mind. Never doubt that your actions make a difference in the lives of everyone you interact with and in the lives of those who grew or made the products and food you purchase. They do not hate us for our freedoms, but they do hate us for stealing so many of their dreams so that we could have cheaper produce, bigger TV's and salad shooters.

Fundamental changes have already been put in place that have changed America's structure perhaps forever. Yet the idea of revolution was not unknown to our Founders. The first shots have been fired without much notice indeed, but that will not last long. "Free Market Capitalism" was and is a good idea in theory (Aside from the whole second law of thermodynamics issue), but it has shown it's self to be incompatible with modern "honor" so it has been scrapped.

Let us hope that whatever is put in it's place is ready and willing to take on Peak Oil, Global Warming and the incoming wave of Inflation without collapsing entirely. It is going to be an interesting ride.