Rob reminds me that Barack Obama is merely the president-elect, but I prefer to get a jump on washing the bad taste of the Bush years out of my mouth by speculating on what our new president has in store for us.

I think Obama has been wise in reminding all Americans in his recent speeches that we are in for a period (years is my guess) of hard work and sacrifice. Neither of these things are something that anyone under the age of sixty has much personal experience with frankly. We are a sorely untested and sorry bunch. A nation of whiners is how I believe Phil Gramm put it not too long ago. He was criticized for that, but he was right. 

So what are we willing to do for our country, for a change? 

Since I am already of the generation that can’t receive full retirement benefits until I am 67, I think I can put it off until 70 or even 71. My own mother, after all, is 76 and still works full time without much trouble to tell the truth. I am also certain I can do without sweetners to get me to vote and stay positively engaged in the political process. Things like tax cuts and credits that incumbents seem required to promise and deliver on anymore. I am willing to pay more in usage taxes to fund programs to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, especially if those programs provide much needed jobs for unskilled as well as skilled workers. Ditto for education. We can’t afford marginally educated people. And I am willing to listen to and thoughtfully consider whatever master plan the new president comes up with for re-regulating a society that has been allowed to indulge in excess for too long.

What about you? Ask what you can do for your country perhaps?