If there ever was a time to contribute to your country, the time is now. This is no time for being impatient or having doubt in this administration. If anything, it is our opportunity to change the direction we have been living the past 8 years into something more ideal. We must have a sense of urgency to change.
Don't be impatient with the Obama administration and keep it real in your optimism. While this country has gone through some serious issues that have affected each and every one of us the past 8 years, our optimism maybe quite high and so is the hope.
Frankly I don't want quick band-aid fixes that rear its ugly head later. I want long lasting positive change for the better. As a technology consultant, I can't afford to have things be "good enough" for now. I need to develop and engineer things that are "good enough forever".
Government policies take time to plan, strategize, formulate, and execute. This country should be fortunate that the Obama team quickly got on the ball during the transition phase. I think that is exemplary and shows just how committed Mr. Obama is to the future of this country.
The O-Team may not have all the answers or solutions to our problems but realize these problems are huge and take time. There are even more pressing issues on top of that, which need to be addressed like Social Security, Environmental, Oil/Energy, Medicare/Health System, Recession. These are huge things in addition to the CDO subprime mess that is going on, the rising unemployment to near 50 year highs, a falling Wall Street and banking system.
I don't think people could even imagine the mess this country is in and most just want it to go away. Many want someone else (the government) to fix it but that is further from the truth. And that is where the entire problem is - people.
As citizens of this great nation, we need to get involved and take a pro active stance in the future of this country instead of bitching and whining. See, this is what happens when great wealth is built up over the last two decades and people get lazy basking in their wealth. However, the tables have turned and the scene is entirely different today. Every generation must go through times of hardship and it is time now to step up.
A friend of mine reminded me today that this country must return to act as One Nation Under God. I agree, but it is much more complex than that.
There is wide separation between the wealth classes in this country. 80% of the wealth of this country is owned by 20% of the individuals and this is growing. It isn't so much about a nation under God, it is about the separation of the have and have nots that is disturbing. It is pretty clear that Obama's administration is directed towards the shrinking middle class that is struggling to get through life. I'm confident he will remedy these issues by enacting social programs that will last far into the future. Think John F. Kennedy here.
Under one nation under God, there are differences in education, intellect, job skills, religious beliefs (Christian, Protestant, Buddhist, Catholic, etc.). Some people in this country (a growing number) are even Atheist (20%). But this is what makes our country so unique from every other country in this world - our diversity. It should be up to a nation like ours to find the commonalities that we share and build off that to push us further.
What it boils down to, is that we are losing faith in ourselves and others. We need to seek God and practice spreading open, unselfish love. Finally, to realize that money is never the solution to solving problems. It is only the source.
A sense of urgency, belief, trust, and love for others is paramount for this country in the next four years. We must change, and if it takes a compassionate orator like Mr. Obama, then the country will be much better for it. Let's enjoy this moment in time.
About Kerry Kobashi
Kerry is the founder of KerryOnWorld. He lives in Silicon Valley and has worked as an engineer and project manager. He owns Kobashi Computing a consulting company.
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