Change

For a moment he had us worried. But Obama succeeded where Sarkozy, Berlusconi, Zapatero and Brown all failed: securing re-election when the United States is still in the throes of a major economic crisis. Unemployment remained at eight percent during his presidential term, national debt has soared, average income has been greatly eroded. The American dream, essential to the nation’s ethos, has become but a pipe dream for a majority of electors.

Nevertheless, Americans preferred even the imperfect track record and hesitant projects of the outgoing President to the risky voodoo economics of his Republican adversaries. And rightly so. Obama has patched up the most serious damage caused by his Republican predecessor. He has avoided the collapse of his country’s economy, reformed its health system and saved the automobile industry, whilst carefully ensuring that civilized relations with the rest of the world are maintained.

The fact remains that, on this day of November 7, 2012, Obama is a very long way from the hopes he inspired both in his country and abroad four years ago. A very long way from his slogan of “change and hope,” from his triumphant and optimistic “Yes we can.”

Obama has another four years. Now free from any electoral preoccupations, it is up to him to show that he can still change and change his country.