President Obama has already made history by being the first non-White to be elected to the presidency. That was a significant accomplishment. However, it is not enough for our new president. He wants to make significant changes to our relationship with the rest of the world and wants to re-make parts of the American economy. The changes he wants to accomplish are dramatic. Given his lack of experience, his objectives seem unrealistic. After all many Democrats as well as most Republicans hold historical views that are contrary to his ideas.
Obama’s allies are operatives who seem to see everything through a political spectrum. Those associates are driven by political motivation. They understand that their best opportunities to change America and its relationship to the world must be accomplished in the earliest part of the Obama presidency. That is the reason for the hard push for health care reform and the very aggressive foreign policy. It is not clear that his closest supporters even understand his vision.
I am not saying that his ideas are wrong. They are just views that do not conform to historic philosophy. It appears he may be correct in his views of the 21st century.
In foreign affairs Obama wants the United States to step down from its position of supremacy. His calls for greater participation of other countries in resolving international issues is a view that was actually started by President George W. Bush. There is a good reason for this change of philosophy. This country currently has 300,000 soldiers in 150 countries and 820 bases in 39 countries. The U.S. military budget is approximately $500 billion. Starting with George Washington there has been an idea that the country would be better off with limited foreign entanglements.
In domestic affairs Obama wants to involve the federal government in more of the things that impact most citizens. Reform of health care is just the first step of his agenda. He wants the federal government to become more involved in the educational systems and the industrial system of our nation. I believe his objective is U.S.A. Incorporated. He sees this as the avenue to competition in a global economy. His list of books to read in 2009 includes Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman. The recent decline in the value of the American dollar is a good thing when you are trying to compete with the low cost nations of the world.
It’s a scary set of objectives. I think I can see where he wants to take this nation. Many people will fight him because they are living in the past. The problem is too few have taken a really good look at where the nation is right now. Those resisting his ideas could easily stop him. The question is what is their vision?
Coast Contact 
Addition from Coastcontact on Oct 18,2009.
Regarding the lower value of the dollar this piece from Canada’s Financial Post
“In case anybody checked, the dollar’s path has been steadily downward since the early years of the administration of George W. Bush. And, notwithstanding the bleating you hear about the battered buck, that’s just fine with Wall Street,” wrote Barron’s this week.
A lower dollar has historically sparked equity rallies, it added, citing a Barclays Capital report that more than 30% of revenues for S&P’s 500 firms come from abroad. So devaluation will enhance their earnings on conversion, notably in technology, energy, materials and industrial sectors.