The Real Change Hasn’t Hit Us Yet

In 2008, the word was “Change.” Candidate Barack Obama wanted everyone to know that, if America elected him President, they would receive change--presumably because the current state of affairs demanded it. Things were bad and were getting worse by the moment. Change is what was going to save us. Change was what John McCain could not offer because, as the story went, McCain was the same as President Bush. And everybody knows that the “same” is not “change.”

In fact, the very mention of the word “change” sent supporters and other candidates alike in to frenzies unseen up until that point. Hillary Clinton seemed to abandon her strong suit (experience) in favor of re-branding herself as a “changer” who could change things with the best of them. Who needed Obama? So important was this new notion of change that every other issue had to be viewed only through the prism of change. Bill Clinton actually said during the campaign that, wherever Hillary had gone in her life and whatever she did, she “changed” things. But, alas, she could not change the fates and wound up as one of the most marginalized Secretaries of State in U.S. History.

Most of the “change” talk centered around the economy which had gone into freefall. However, despite Obama trying to teach Joe the Plumber all about the wonders of “spreading the wealth around” (which seemed to be a significant departure from traditional American views), the message of “change” roared on supported of course by a media enamored of all things Obama. The message: We need change and we need it now or we’re all doomed!

Americans wanted change. There is no doubt about that. However, the change that Americans clearly wanted and clearly believed they were voting for with Obama was a “change” for the better. In other words, they saw that the economy was hurting. They knew that something had to change. But the change they expected was some new way of energizing the existing economy so that Americans could prosper. Instead, they fell victim to the old bait and switch game. Obama offered change. But the change he offered appears to be something entirely different than what was needed or even called for by the situation.

Now, eighteen months into the Obama presidency, things have certainly changed for the worse. Unemployment remains unbelievably high. Prospects for jobs are virtually non-existent and not one person who is dealing with the reality of the situation “on the ground,” as it were, appears to have any reason to be optimistic. But wait, didn’t we do the $787 Billion in stimulus money? Didn’t we pass a massive healthcare bill which will actually raise costs for the average American? Didn’t we go after Wall Street? Wow! One would think that all that “change” would have finally put us back on track by now (like Joe Biden tells us).

Of course, it did not!

Now, most Presidents of the past (pick virtually any one of them) would look at the signs in the economy and in the market and conclude one thing immediately: Something needs to be done. Something needs fixing! But that’s just it! American wanted to fix the economy. They wanted the change to be that of restoration. Namely, restoration of the opportunities that the American system provides. Any other politician would be fighting tooth and nail to do something (anything) that would bring about that restoration (at least in terms of perceptions) so that they could be comfortable in their own re-election bid. But Obama doesn’t really seem to care--at least, that is the perception it would seem of many! Two words: Endless Vacation!

One can only conclude that, like so much about America that Obama seems to have problems with (remember the apology tour?), the traditional American economic system apparently needs changing in his opinion. In other words, the real change hasn’t hit us…yet! Many Americans fear that this ultimate change will look and feel surprisingly like Socialism. If that’s the change that Obama really meant during the campaign, then Americans will have to find a way to change the “change” before it’s too late to change it back! Going back to the ballot box on November 2nd will truly begin that change. Change we can believe in!

Kyle Warren is host of the award winning Kyle Warren Show heard weekdays on NetTalkWorld.com. Also visit www.KyleWarrenShow.com for more information.

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