>What I want Obama to do is teach this country (and >the world) the value of being proactive, of taking action >BEFORE the problems occur.

nice thought, but honestly I don't see it, hopefully I'm wrong and Obama will take things in a direction no one has seen before.
A reasonable hope is that he might balance things out, bring America back to the situation under Clinton, but even that seems difficult, since Obama hasn't (so far) shown that he'll fight for the agenda most progressives want.
Even if he accomplishes universal healthcare, same sex civil unions and major infrastructure, including a new electricity grid, it would only put America on the same level as Wester-Europe and Japan (except on civil unions) on those issues.

> Let's regulate financial markets BEFORE the economic >meltdown. 

now this is something Obama can lead the way on, if America leads in this field, it will knock the wind out of the European conservatives' sails, the only defense they ever had for building in loopholes etc... in the regulation was the defense that is was needed in fear of economical disaster and that Europeans had to look at America. Now Europe needs more of the flexibility that the US has, but they should do it the right way.

> Let's educate kids BEFORE they become unproductive >adults.

more of an American problem, kids in Japan should probably get less hours of school a day, it's driving a lot of them mental 

>Let's fix bridges BEFORE they collapse.

American problem 

>Let's give people health care BEFORE they become sick,
>and let's get a system to pay for it BEFORE it >bankrupts people and companies.

American problem, just copy Canada or something and adjust for specifics

> Let's reduce environmental stress BEFORE >catastrophic environmental damage is caused.

true, something Obama can and must lead the world in

>Let's help people in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin >America BEFORE they become terrorists.

agree, something the whole Western World needs to do more

I would have had real hope of succes to achieve these things, if the Democrats had nominated Al Gore and he had won, but let's hope Obama nonetheless achieves those goals.

One more thing: vital for America's image abroad is a thorough investigation of and lawsuits against members of the Bush administration. If they get a pass, the USA will just be another hypocrit of a superpower.

by callisto on 12/30/2008 03:33:29 PM EST