The characteristic of hope is the element that defines Obama's efforts to create a people's movement rather than a simple campaign to get himself elected as president.
Obama's idea, clearly stated in numerous speeches and outlined in his writings, is that real change in the country is not accomplished simply by electing a leader. Citizens must get involved in the process at all levels.
Electing a president is only the beginning, only part of the process. People must make government accountable from the local level to the highest office. They must bring about change from the bottom up.
Remember that the government at all levels charges you for everything you do. They tax you for the food you eat, for the land you live on, for the gas you need to power your vehicle. They tax your parents when you are born, and your descendants when you die.
The government also regulates what you can and cannot do in almost every detail.
So you have every reason to make sure the government is run the way you desire, and by people you support.
The government is in no position to tell you to pull yourselves up by your bootstraps when misfortune strikes you or your community. You own the government. You pay the salaries of elected officials and bureaucrats. You purchase all government infrastructure.
Barack has asked his supporters of all ages to get involved in their communities and in the democratic process and not simply to vote for him as president. He' s made it clear that getting his programs through will not be easy.
Getting elected to the Oval Office is just the first step.
In order to mobilize his backers, Obama must convey the message of hope. Because people must believe change is possible. Without hope people become cynical, they stop caring and stop paying attention to the government that charges them for every move they make. When people have hope, they will continue to persevere even when things look bleak because they can visualize the possibility of a different tomorrow.
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