To think people are basically deluded, if they think Obama means change?

[DabblesinDebate]

Some thoughts from Chomsky...

Chomsky: The European reaction to Obama is a European delusion.

Chomsky: Of course there are differences, but they are not fundamental. Nobody should have any illusions. The United States has essentially a one-party system and the ruling party is the business party.

I couldnt care less

that's Chomsky the right wing nut job right?

not surprised............

He means change to me. It means Americans aren't that stupid. I can't see any black Americans agreeing with you. It will make huge changes to how people see American and who some Americans see themselves. It not only the money but the symbols of change.

I think that Chomsky thinks we are politically more naive than we actually are. It's about race, not politics

laurie...No he is the other way round!

I agree that the right and left are merged on some degree, but not as much as in this country.

The foriegn policy of the Republican is harsher, their views on any sort of issue such as abortion, gun laws, the free market, defence etc are more severe than the democrats.

It will of course be more of same old, same old but it would have been worse if Palin had ended up as president, that would be terrifying.

And though he may end up doing as little as Thatcher did for Women as he may do for African Americans he hopefully won't make things worse... oh mind Thatcher did for women so who knows?

Totally agree. I think his election is a fantastic symbol but as far as politics goes he is just another man at the head of an enormous country. I do remember an old school teacher who used o say to us that the difference between Republicans and Democrats was the same as the difference between Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola. So yes, I think policies will pretty much stay the same. Sincerly hope I am actually wrong on this one!
Who is Chomsky?

Its true the world isn't going to change overnight because of him, but its a bloody big step in the right direction and its going to give alot of people hope which is something thats been missing a long time, I know that sounds corny as hell but its true.

I'm not politically minded and I've not really payed much attention to the elections but I must admit when I found out he had won I got quite teary ... maybe pregnancy hormones but maybe not.

I think the op is deluded if they are basing their opinions on Chomsky.

I think putting the colour of Obama's skin aside, he means change in a fundamental attitude to moving America forward through the recession.
He has made it clear that it is a long hard road ahead without any of the bullshit rhetoric that Bush and indeed Mcain have been spouting.
He appears to have been the only person in this campaign who was prepared to say that actually there is a recession happening, it's here to stay for a couple of years and heres what i think we should do, including asking for a redistribution of wealth from America's richest.

Thanks noonki

if you could just help me out with who it is I'm getting him confused with that would help a lot.....

Right wing nut job, American writer, hugely respected by other nutters..... about 60 ish?

This is gonna bug me all day

Cross posted.It is with OP that I agree.

Avram Noam Chomsky (pronounced /noʊm ˈtʃɑmski/; born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher,[2][3][4] cognitive scientist, political activist, author, and lecturer. He is an Institute Professor emeritus and professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[5] Chomsky is well known in the academic and scientific community as the father of modern linguistics.[6][7] Since the 1960s, he has become known more widely as a political dissident, an anarchist,[8] and a libertarian socialist intellectual.

He is a well known peace campaigner as well as writing extensively on the middle east. Many of his works are wonderful to read.

Oh but I thought he was going to stop the oceans rising?

Or was that Jesus????

I can't see things changing that much to be honest and what with the recession in global ecomonies he will have to keep one war raging at least.

Noam Chomsky. He's not a right wing nut job, he's quite far left - more anarchist than anything else I think

I think the election of Obama will change the way other countries view America and therefore will mean a big shift on a world scale.
Obama was against the invasion of Iraq and yet has still been elected by the American people - my hope is that this will begin to ease world tension and improve Americas relation with the rest of the world.
He is also an African American - in the white house this is a big deal and whatever his future policies will change things. I hope.

How disappointed are black Americans going to be when they wake up and realise he is a politician first and foremost, black second. He is a career politician who has got where he is by NOT playing the race card. If they think he is going to put his own career at risk by championing them and alienating the rest of the country, which let's face it is still hugely racist, they have let themselves become hugely mislead and blurred by the spin the media have put on him.
He is unfortunately inheriting a hugely poisined challice and will have to put in place some hugely tough economic measures, which will make him unpopular with many of his electorate.

I agree dmc. Same sort of thing happened with Nelson Mandela. Lots of Black SAs became disallusioned, believing he would change things for them almost straight away when he was actually presiding over a whole nation, White and Black.

For me, the change is the election of a Black president. He may very well turn out to be a crap political leader

I think that he will make a big difference and change things. His whole election campaign has proved that he can do remarkable things. Raising so much money from tiny donations, derailing the Clinton machine. Of course he should be president first and black second, it would be ridiculous and racist if it were the other way around. But just forget his skin colour and concentrate on the man. For a start, Al-Qaeda will have more trouble whipping up anti-American sentiment when the US president's middle name is Hussein. He is also serious about climate change, R&D, kick-starting the economy etc. One of the things that his huge election funds has paid for is 200 experts to advise him on all of this stuff.

He has inherited a poisoned chalice, but I believe that he is a great man and great men don't succumb to adversity.

Not entirely unreasonable perhaps but certainly cynical. There are times when you should perhaps suspend disbelief and just go with it.

This is one of those times. Personally I feel its nice to be around a time that people will describe as historic. I always felt that out generation missed all that stuff!

We all believed that when the Labour party was elected here things would change, did they?
It is one thing campaigning on what they would do in an ideal world but the realities are far different. The only changes will really come when we elect a lay-person, not a politician and that ain't gonna happen!
We also seem to be focused on this one man as if her were supreme leader and dictator. many of the politicians who make and ratify the policies are still in place, and unless he can ride rough shod over the house of representatives and the senate not much will change to any drastic degree.

Can we not just be happy for ONE DAY before we start getting cynical and disapointed?

Yes, some things will be hard to change, and yes Obama faces a massive economic crisis that will mean life for many Americans is going to get harder over the next few years, and yes he won't live up to all the hopes placed on him.

But do you really think the history of both the US and the world might not have been different if Bush hadn't been president?

This is a wonderful, historic moment. Lets enjoy it!

Yep guys - give the guy a break he has to house train the puppy before he gets down to the nitty gritty of running a country!

And if you run a campaign highlighting the need for change and that you are going to be the one to implement it you don't get long to make those changes before people start baying for your blood.

okay, i have to voice this since i'm an american living over here because of the state of the us. yes, most people already know that one man can not possibly change the economy, war situation, healthcare system on his own over night. but, the fact that he can actually inspire the mass amounts of people to go out and vote in hopes for better days in american really speaks a lot. he can actually speak to the american public without sounding like a complete idiot.

and yes, obama actually does mean change! he's the first black president of the united states of america! in a country where acceptance to diversity isn't something you can expect in all places and we finally finally have someone other than an old white man with narrow views on the rest of the world is something to be so proud of!

glitterfairy. On another thread I was told to Google things rather than ask for details or explanations. I am so glad I did NOT listen to them. Thank you for a very complete and interesting answer.