I guess you've illustrated my point.
If you don't believe that it is possible to work within the system to change it, then I think we all lose out. If it really isn't possible to build true consensus, then our government is broken beyond repair and we should hunker down for the inevitable loss of prestige, stability and power that will come with that.
The trick - ultimately - is compromise. And I think Obama's record working with the GOP in Illinois is indicative of his ability to do just that. Not only that, perhaps Obama's biggest strength is his ability to motivate the public to demand action. Politicians answer to their constituents - and Obama has been able to motivate people to do, say, and believe in more than they have before. Given the national stage to put forth a platform, I really believe he can lead the American people to demand policy changes.
That is the "change" that is talked about - it is a change in attitude; a change in belief that Washington isn't accountable to the people they represent.
I just received an email from the campaign saying that Obama has received donations from 936,000 people over the course of this campaign. That is absolutely incredible - almost 1,000,000 people DONATING MONEY to a presidential campaign? To me, that indicates his ability to call upon the collective will of the American people to demand something different. For now, that message is limited to an election - but give him a platform, and I think he turns that motivation to the issues: health care, the war in Iraq, the economy, responsible energy policy, or whatever else you'd like to point out.
What is more powerful than a movement of American people demanding change on a specific issue? The only way sweeping changes have ever been made in this country were due to a mass movement of people demanding it. Obama can lead that movement on any number of issues. If you can get the American people to stand up and ask for something, eventually, things begin to change. You've seen it with this campaign, and I believe you'll see it in the issues with an Obama presidency. Hillary Clinton just can't do that.
