Is America Ready for Real Change?

Barack Obama came off vacation this past weekend. He met with a leading evangelical pastor along with John McCain, then came out swinging against his Republican opponent. This comes as some Democrats in swing states are getting nervous about whether Obama's message resonates with their constituents. In fact, these jitters have been manifesting themselves in questions like "Why isn't he further ahead?", and the like.

Barack Obama has positioned himself as an agent of change. If he's serious, and I believe he is, he needs to take a look at Bill Moyers' recent conversation with military man, scholar and author Andrew Bacevich. His new book "The Limits of Power" takes the nation to task for, among other things, morphing from an empire of production to an empire of consumption. His book, as evidenced by the Moyers interview, poses some fundamental questions about the extent to which Americans really want to change.

Remember Jimmy Carter? He talked about needing to change the nation's energy consumption habits almost 30 years ago. He was booted out of office by a candidate, Ronald Reagan, who promised we didn't have to change a thing. Now, hopefully, the message has gotten through. That hope is the bedrock on which the Obama candidacy must be built. He must succeed where Carter failed.

Many of his policies are nibbling around the edges of a truly changed America. He must sharpen them, and convince the country that, for example, even if gas prices continue to drop the country needs to consume less. He must convince a nation of consumers that in order for America to be better off in the long run, there must be short term sacrifice. This is the grave mistake George W. Bush made in launching the global war on terror, according to Andrew Bacevich.

The tough economic times America is going through has convinced many of the need for change. Barack Obama has tapped into that need.

Now he must put some meat on the bones.