On with the show

Congratulations are in order for the new President Barak Obama. I truly wish him success, because his success is our success. With his coronation, I mean inauguration starts a new period in American history. He has broad public support, but he faces immense difficulties.

Now that he is president, he needs to lead. All the vague talk of 'hope and change' needs to be defined now. I do have some questions about this though. President Bush came to Washington talking about a new tone. That never happened no matter what he tried. The country is made up of Republicans, Democrats, third party people, and independents. They all have different ideas for the country. For us to come together who has to sacrifice their ideas? For instance with all respect to the President many people like me want a much smaller government. He and his followers want a much larger government. Where do we come together on that one? Frankly given his background I would settle for a government that doesn't grow any but I don't think they would go for that.

I favor an education system that relies on national players less and local control more. They prefer one that is run by the teachers unions and ruled by national politicians. Where do we come together here? How about tax policy? I favor a substantial decrease in the corporate tax rate to make our corporations competitive with European countries such as Ireland. For two years President Obama has called that give aways to rich fat cats. Sounds pretty harsh to me. Can we come together on that?

I favor an aggressive war on terror, I really don't know what he favors, because he never really told us. There may be room for agreement here, but how would we know?

I don't bring up these old issues to be divisive, but merely to point out that the time for platitudes and flowery speeches is over and it is time to govern. He can follow the example of Ronald Reagan and trust the American people or he can follow the example of Franklin Roosevelt and trust government and politicians. I think I know who he will follow, but I hope I am wrong.

I for one do not think partisanship is bad as long as the country is the ultimate goal. The President and his party won the power so they will get much of their agenda through. That does not preclude the minority from their ideas. Debate and even arguing is as American as the Constitution. The founders fought like brothers, but never lost sight of the republic.

President Obama has immense latitude right now from the American people. He has an extremely level of approval right now and we will be very patient given the economy and the history of his presidency. I hope he doesn't depend on that. He said in his speech of January 2o that markets create wealth. That is encouraging since most Democrats don't like to mention markets or wealth. Freedom is our only way out of our difficulties combined with responsibility. President Bush seemed to lose sight of that. A new start can be freeing. Lets hope the new president is a student of history. I'm not sure what President Obama reads at night before going to bed (Can I recommend The Forgotten man and Liberal Fascism?)