Change we can do more than just believe in

Time to clear a few things up

• I think Obama will make a good president
• I think he is the best choice ahead of McCain
• I worry Obama will make it into the White House relatively untested in his decision-making under pressure (a campaign is a different beast to government)
  
• I think regular change is a very important thing in politics

That last point is a key one. I don't think I've talked about this that much on here so far. I just got an email from my Dad, talking about politics (if you haven't met my Dad, he's like me but much more competent at everything. And you know when you get to the point when you're 10 and you realise that your Dad doesn't know everything? I still haven't reached that point). Anyway, he made the very good point that change is a healthy part of democracy.

To quote:
"Democracy only works when the in party regularly becomes the out party for a while. A few years in the political wilderness cleans out the party hacks and apparatchiks who only join the in party because they are in power. NSW Labor is a good example of a party too long in power. A few years in the wilderness and the old in party, who are now out, are revitalised and better fitted to govern."

But further than that, change is good even if the in party has done little wrong, and the new party changes nothing. Eg, Kevin Rudd's Labor Government. Nothing's changed, we still have a little dude with glasses in charge, and the country is barely different to what it was four years ago. But it's important that change is made for the long term health of democracy.

Dad also made the point that only a few countries handle the change of Government well. The US, UK, Australia, NZ, Canada, France, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, and a few others.
To quote:
"The best measure of the political health of a democracy is the ease with which governments change."

It's true. There are quite a few democracies out there that either do not change governments (Japan), or have a terrible time doing so.

It looks Obama will win. Whether you want him to or not, it doesn't matter. It doesn't even matter if he does a good job or not. The change and the shakeups will be good for America. Get rid of some dead wood in cushy positions, force some others to examine their policy directions etc. It's good for the system, even if you disagree with his policies.

I guess we'll find out soon!