No Time for a Honeymoon

The easy part is over. Barack Obama succeeded in transforming his mantra from "Yes We Can" into "Yes We Did." After an endless campaign, in one giant sigh of relief, Americans made history. Yes, that sense of emptiness you're feeling is called election withdrawal. Now comes the hard part.

Let's set aside Obama's campaign promises for a while. For now, there are crises that need to be dealt with. Facing him is a plethora of issues threatening America and the world. Some of these are of such magnitude that any one of them could wholly consume a president's time. His is a job I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemies.

At the top of Obama's agenda is the financial crisis. His current plan focuses on helping those worst affected: the middle-class. This is laudable. It remains uncertain however whether the President and Congress can have much impact on the inherent structural problems in the global financial system. If there's money to be made, even imaginary money, can regulation really constrain the bloodlust of CEOs and speculators? After all, new laws mean new loopholes.

Then there's Iraq. In a New York Times op-ed piece published in July 2008, Obama wrote that on his first day in office, he would order the military to end the war. This goal would be accomplished by steadily withdrawing all combat troops within 16 months. With all the news generated by the economy, it's easy to forget that Obama's campaign was launched on the basis of his opposition to the war. His final decision regarding this issue is crucial, as it will be the litmus test that proves whether he can keep his word or not. Ending the Iraq War will save the United States vast amounts of money, build credibility abroad and save thousands of Iraqis from a terrible fate.

Once these current crises have been tempered, the President-elect will need to tackle climate change. Reconciling the scientific community with a once-hostile White House must be his first step. Obama's ambitious energy plan targets both America's growing carbon dioxide emissions and its energy shortage, but will also reform a lax culture of conservation, which is just as crucial. His solution is to invest heavily into green infrastructure and renewable sources of energy. Dubbed the Apollo Program's modern equivalent, the plan's goals are nothing less than slashing carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and eliminating America's dependence on Middle East oil in 10 short years.

To make matters worse, underwriting all these huge policy initiatives is a wounded, angry Republican party. Though thoroughly trounced in last week's election, the GOP is going to make sure they throw every obstacle into President Obama's path.

This column has thus far been a downer and admittedly so; it hasn't even mentioned America's failing health care system, its aging population, immigration policy, education, the budget deficit, Iran or Afghanistan. Then again, aren't these challenges the very reason so many millions backed Obama in the first place? Americans asked for leadership, vision, integrity, courage and yes, hope. "Yes we can" Barack Obama. The question now is "Can you too?"


=//Turnquest