We are all liberals

When thinkers like John Locke developed the idea of liberalism in the 17th and 18th centuries it had little to do with the liberalism that appears to have been championed today by Sen. Barack Obama.

Liberalism, in fact, was a way of thinking that called for free speech, free religion and a resistance toward authoritarian monarchs in general.

So in this sense, nearly all Americans today, from the most staunch conservatives to the most "spread the wealth" leftist would agree with this liberalism - this belief in the freedom that America has so reverently preserved

For those who'd call the Bush administration a slip, this landslide election shows just how free our nation truly is. All the self-loathing Americans who have thrived so well these past years now have to eat crow as their new fearless leader, who's already made it to Grace, will either keep his hold or fall, giving the nation an excuse to vote Republican in 2016.

So let's talk about the future.

With Obama's election, America has earned an unprecedented radical liberalism. Plans for government-ensured health care and billions of dollars in the Green investment show America has voiced an opinion for a New Deal when we haven't yet fallen into a depression.

And that's fine. We've proven our ability to make change when we do not want to wait around and find out the hard way that our economy needed help.

In times like these, you cannot blame the American people for not trusting our leaders or our traditional hands-off systems.

But how can everyone be so fired up? The smiles I see are jubilant and sincere. With some of these reactions, you'd think most of our problems are now completely cleansed.

How can everyone be so sure? So confident?

Because Bush is gone? It's just not enough.

Indeed, Obama's election to office is a huge historical victory that ought to be blessed. After Sen. John McCain's questionable campaign, particularly his selection of running slug Sarah Palin, it is tough to convince anyone who'd rather see the highest office in the land held strong from mockery-- that Obama isn't the right person for the job.

But the essence of this election victory was supposedly the economy.

What has me anxious right now is the possibility that this election is the American peoples' first step toward admitting we no longer value the opportunity for private advancement that our forefathers so carefully plotted for us.

If the American people plan on treating Obama as more than just an expression of change, but instead a panacea - a rub-on, cure-all that is going to keep our economy strong, then we've masturbated our intentions.

While this may be a time for a few drinks to help secure the emotional, historic value of this moment, it is not a time for gross, crap-eating grin celebration.

In America, the responsibility of the economy falls in the hands of the American people. If we've elected the president who's going to make this new liberalism possible, then great. But our work is still just beginning.

It is not enough to vote, smile and feel cozy. We need to make our own good news with dirt on our knees and, if need be for our security, blood on our hands.

Be proud of our president-elect but keep moderation and the edge of the people that is so recently sharpened. Keep in mind that now, more than ever, pride does precede the fall.