So Barack Obama has won the election and become the next President of the United States? I am glad to hear it – if I were an American that is the way I think I would have voted. I pray that he proves up to the job. On the international scene, he needs to make America more respected and less envied, feared and hated. Domestically, he also has plenty of difficult choices to make. Not only is there a precarious economic situation but he also has to look at fulfilling the promises he made to those who voted for him while also serving the significant numbers who didn’t but for whom he is still now their President.

The best thing about the elections though was that they saw a high level of participation. When the next General Election rolls round in the UK I would love to see a similar increase in engagement rather than the creeping apathy of recent polls.

Technorati Tags:

obama

us elections

democracy

participation