Anyone who knows me probably knows that I can’t exactly be described as thrilled at the outcome of this election. Most of my political and economic beliefs are the exact opposite of the policies Barack Obama supports. There was literally no campaign stance that I thought him serious about that I did not disagree with him on. Granted, there are few Democratic policy proposals that I would agree with, but I found many of his proposals either completely unrealistic or downright harmful to America’s economic well-being and national security. An income tax cut to 95% of Americans when 40% pay no income taxes? Spin it how you want but a tax cut that is not; it is simply a vote-buying slogan that will have miniscule economic benefit if actually enacted. He supports unilaterally extending the Afghan war into neighboring Pakistan in order to fight the “real terrorists”. How can someone who thinks the war in Iraq (desert terrain, 25 million people) is a disaster even contemplate venturing into a country packed with mountainous terrain and 170 million angry, ignorant peasants?
Nevertheless I sincerely hope his presidency is a success. Despite his campaign’s failure to fulfill the “post-racial” promise, Obama’s presidency does have significant potential not only to advance race relations in the United States, but also offers black Americans a powerful symbol of the change America has already undergone. A successful Obama presidency will send an incredible message to young black Americans and indeed all Americans that no matter what your background, no matter what your skin color America is the one place in this world that you become what you make of yourself. That idea, that your destiny is what you make it, is the underlying principle of individualism that has made America great and Obama’s election is a testament to its power and potential. That, I think, is the most important lesson of this election and the one I hope most Americans take home.
I would much rather our first black president have been Michael Steele, Michael Williams, Ken Blackwell, or JC Watts (or most ideally, despite his aversion to politics, Dr. Thomas Sowell), but that is not the hand we have been dealt. This should be a clarion call that the Republican Party needs to seriously examine and overhaul its vision for America and identify a new generation of leadership. I cannot say I have too much confidence in President-elect Obama’s proposed policies; I am much too cynical and have seen where similar policies have led elsewhere. But I do have hope.
