US President Episode XLIV: A New Hope

Posted by Mac in Politics, History, Society on 05.11.2008

Well, it’s done. Finally. Months and even years of buildup culminated last night as the United States of America chose a new president. Not only is he partly African-American, he is a democrat and what many claim to be “a socialist”. He has executed a close to flawless election campaign, playing his strengths and skillfully avoiding uncomfortable questions. The on-going financial crisis became his catalyst and also the final blow to McCain’s candidature. In the end Obama seems to have won a striking victory, putting a brutal end to eight years of republican rule. McCain himself admitted his defeat and showed his greatness in singing Obama’s prize and advocating the need for unity amongst Americans.

Albeit defeated politicians are expected to show magnanimity, you rarely get the feeling they actually mean it. I really hope McCain do, and he did seem very sincere. What the US needs now, more than anything is political unity, working towards common goals. The issues at hand are truly massive. Wars, economic recession and social problems plague the US, issues that will have to be taken care of if to avoid a complete and total collapse of the US’ status as superpower and “the greatest democracy in the world”.

Through American history, Americans have had a certain tradition for uniting behind the president, regardless of his political party and ideology. They did in fact do that after Bush took both the 2000 and 2004-election with a tiny margin, and he was very popular, racking great numbers on the popularity ratings, especially after 9/11. It was only later, after Iraqi-affair turned into a veritable quagmire, that his popularity started dwindling and the current truly soured. In Obama’s case, there is no guarantee this will happen. Of course, he did manage to create a huge following and get thousands that normally don’t vote, to vote. Something that indicates he can be a very popular president. Still, if he do not succeed in actually creating change, the sentiments of the people will easily shift, perhaps even more brutal than in the case of Bush. Mr. Obama clearly manage to appeal to a great many people. Still, the conservatism and the racist sentiments amongst many people, will make it tough to ever convincing certain groups of the US society. Their opposition will be equally strong to the liberals and leftists disapproval of G. W. Bush. How this turns out in the long run, only time will show.

From a foreigners perspective, whatever happens in the US, is important, although it might seem very far away. The US do remain the single most important economical, political and military power in the world, and even if we don’t like it, there’s no hiding the fact that they indirectly hold a considerable influence over “us”. Hence, it is our interest that the American economical and political machinery runs as smoothly as possible. The financial crisis is a recent and very obvious example of this. In lack of any better forerunner and unifying factor in the world, we need an US paving the road with good examples in environmental matters, general security issues such as terrorism, “naughty” states all around the world and aid to third world countries.

I personally highly doubt Obama will be the great messiah in foreign political matters, he will most likely stand for continuity more than anything else. Yet, he is the new kid on the block, he is a new beginning, he is a new chance and our new hope.

Congratulations Mr. President Obama, now, please, fix the world!

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