This week Obama became the 44th president. He talks well and he has captured the imagination of the nation and the world enough to get popular support. However I wonder how much change he will be able to accomplish that the American people will be able to get behind.

A few reasons for my skepticism.
I don't get the sense the he is as stupid or arrogant as the guy to had that spot for the last 8 years. He knows he has some big problems on his plate. However, I also get the distinct sense that he has been "groomed" for the office. Anyone who reaches it must be or they are do not get party support. So, on some things, things that are really not that important to the PTB who backed him, he will try to do the right thing. On other important things, he has a script and agenda he must play out OR he will be placed in situations where he has to go down an unpopular road.

Another reason that I am skeptical is simply that the kind of real change that Americans need to make.. that they REALLY need to make.. will end up being quite unpopular. Its going to be a tough sell to the over shopping, over consuming, over spending, media hypnotized average American. Lots of people will be longing for the good old days of 5000 calories meals, cheap gas, the next American Idol contest. The change that is about to happen will force them to change. Its not going to be pretty.

One of the motivations for all this, is that I have spent practically my whole adult life studying about these times and felt I need to integrate it. In terms of potential topics that I might have something to say about.. here is a list of the influences on this subject. Hopefully I can get time to revisit this in more detail.

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