The pundits are going over-board about Obama’s win, and I’m afraid that my friend Dan Sendecki’s excitement at being part of a new generation of young people saving the world is somewhat premature. American politicians–indeed all politicians–take on the tone of alchemists and snake-oil salesmen the closer election day looms. The simple fact is, that maugre the wonderful symbolic victory of an African-American standing at the helm of America’s ship of state for the first time ever, Mr. Obama was the lesser of two evils. His particular problem–that of being truly an inexperienced politician–is now ours. The problems remain and continue to worsen, and once the cheers and the honeymoon fervor dies away we will be left with a mortal man–albeit a gifted orator and one of keen intelligence–but one of limited experience of the give and take, the rough and tumble of real international politics. My observation tells me that the Clintons–and one in particular–will make their best effort to realize a 2012 come-back–which means that Obama’s road is going to be a rough one in the days ahead, even among his own party members. Not to mention the fact that Obama may become–without intending to be so–a reason for even more racial division in the country. This is indeed an historic moment and one worthy of celebration, but the sooner Obama starts to tackle the problems of the economy and the security of the United States and the world with real actions the better. It’s time to get over our collective relief that America will no longer be run by an inarticulate, arrogant buffoon. Now we must hold Obama to his promises and push for the change he so glibly trumpeted from sea to shining sea. Yes, I’m jumping with joy–but it’s a joy that’s tempered by the fact that the world continues to grind on, savings continue to decline, and methane gasses continue to bubble up from beneath the melting ice caps at the North and South poles. The sooner Obama wakes up and starts to face these kinds of problems in a less-than-alchemical manner the better I will like him. History can go by the wayside as long as this man can help save the environment for my children and their children’s children. In order to do that he will have to face the impossible: the further slow-down of the American economy in the name of the environment. Is he up to that task while China asserts its right to replace a million bicycles with a million cars? When push comes to shove, will he be able to face down the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned America about? Or will he go the way of every American politician and begin to back off once he gets a sense of what his “change” may cost him once more lay-offs happen and the panaceas he proposes show themselves to be what they are–not realizable given the autombile industry’s stranglehold on the American economy, and the continuing yen for central heating, microwave ovens, color televisions, SUV’s and other symbols of the American life-style. Can Americans sacrifice that life-style so future generations will be able to breathe fresh air, or will they continue to drive their cars across town to do some shopping instead of taking a bus or even taking a walk? Time will tell, but time–quite frankly–is running out. So let’s celebrate, and talk about new paradigms and young generations saving the world, but then let’s see if this new president can walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. God help him, and God help us all.