Barack Obama's New Book

Barack Obama finished The Audacity of Hope a little while back. I've gotten around to taking the book out of the library, and I must say I'm extremely impressed with his understanding of the current situation and his vision moving forward. Here's a really great quote from the book, one I really believe is right on the money:

Republicans are fighting the last war, the war they waged and won in the eighties, while Democrats are forced to fight a rearguard action, defending the New Deal programs of the thirties.

Neither strategy will work anymore. America can't compete with China and India simply by cutting costs and shrinking government--unless we're willing to tolerate a drastic decline in American living standards with smoke-choked cities and beggars lining the streets. Nor can America compete simply by erecting trade barriers and raising the minimum wage--unless we're willing to confiscate all the world's computers.

But our history should give us confidence that we don't have to choose between an oppressive, government-run economy and a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism. It tells us that we can emerge from great economic upheavals stronger, not weaker. Like those who came before us, we should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic free market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and upward mobility. And we can be guided by Lincoln's simply maxim: that we will do collectively through our government, only those things we cannot do as well or at all individually or privately.

In other words, we should be guided by what works.

He then prescribes a number of realistic fixes. Well, perhaps not realistic with all of the special interests in our political system. But, fiscally, they are realistic. I'll let you take the book out of your library instead of trying to summarize it in a precious few sentences. Ultimately, I've found a potential presidential candidate that I can really get behind.