Once again, the American people have shown what they’re made of by electing Barack Obama the 44th president of the United States. From an unlikely and modest beginning to a resounding 330+ electoral college votes victory, the Obama campaign, and the movement behind it, has inspired millions to become active in the political process once again and change the direction of this great country.
As a Canadian citizen, I was not involved in this generational transition, in this replacement of the old guard, in this repudiation of business and politics as usual. But I certainly supported it in every way I could and was excited by it, because so much of our world, let alone Canada, is tied to the United States, for better or worse.
I believe the Obama administration will have a tremendously positive impact in both internal affairs and international issues, not because Obama is a miracle man, but because he is an exceedingly intelligent and thoughtful man who seeks the advise of experts, not political pundits and ideologues, and strives to achieve concrete results over making a point. The fact that I strongly support his policies is simply because they make sense and are the right thing to do to make everybody better off, including American businesses.
In a way, this is more of a victory of pragmatism over ideology and demagoguery than a Democrats victory over Republicans. Indeed, the GOP has become the ideological party, and is now doomed to irrelevancy unless they reform themselves in profound ways.
So, from a Canadian living in California, tip of the hat to my American friends for doing yourselves and the world a huge favor.