The Meaning of Change

A lot of people have noted that Obama's definition of change is left undefined in his speeches, and have legitimately argued that this points to a "lack of substance" on his part. But such an argument misses the point of what change means for Obama, and for America more generally. Opinion polls have already made it quite clear that Americans are looking for a change. Bush's approval numbers are locked in the cellar, the Iraq War remains extremely unpopular, the economy is faltering inspiring widespread concern; to sum it all up, Americans generally feel that their country is on the wrong track. A majority want universal health care, a majority want education reform, a majority want to gain energy independence and stop global warming. The list could go on and on as the desire for change is abundantly clear, and on everyone of the issues just mentioned, Obama has come up with a proscription for alleviating it (you can go here to find out more).

But when Obama talks about change he does not want to stress his policies so much as the understanding that change will come not from above, i.e. from him or from Washington, but from below, from the movement bubbling up underneath him. He is merely trying to focus American's desire for change by connecting it with his candidacy, and reminding American's that they need not be despondent any longer. They can have hope for the future, hope that the change they desire, the change they need will come. It will come not from the politicians in Washington, or from Obama himself, it will come from themselves. Americans are the change America seeks. Seek and ye shall find. In other words, in wanting change Americans have the power to change, they need only look to themselves to find the change they seek. The people have already spoken on the issue of change, it is Washington that has yet to register that fact.