Most Americans are disappointed by the economic downturn and the seemingly endless war in Iraq and they are open—as Americans have been throughout history—to give the other guy a chance.  That is the opening in democratic societies for persons who are principled, dedicated and selfless to gain office and wield the powers of office in new ways.

Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan took the United States in new directions from the direction the country was headed by their immediate predecessors.  Each offered something new.  Barack Obama is offering something new and it remains to be seen exactly what that means.

We know from what he tells the electorate that spending increases to expand old programs and create new ones is in the works.  Accompanying the spending will be new taxes and increases in old taxes.  No tax cuts for the wealthy and a per capital outlay of $1,000 for every American to get the economy moving again.

For those of us who studied classical economics that spells economic trouble down the road with inflation on the rise, higher costs for doing business, lower profit margins, less investment and a public sector that dominates the private sector.  Welfare state policies will be promoted, health care can expect to become a function of the federal government, America’s armed forces will decline and, well, after that comes the revolution.

Revolution is in the wind and can be smelled in small ways. 

The ‘meal guidelines’ for the Democratic National Convention are the epitome of political correctness suggesting that the Obama government will be “Green,” not red, white and blue.  Automobile manufacturers will struggle to meet emission standards, some will seek subsidies to keep Detroit from bankruptcy and the American dollar will not recover from its recent decline.  Social activists are already in Denver meeting with local officials and residents.  Yesterday, the Rocky Mountain News reports, “Adam Jung, organizer of the planned Tent State University war protest in City Park, fielded questions from an audience of about 50 south City Park neighbors Wednesday night.”

Tent State resonates with Kent State, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 1968,  protests against the war in Viet Nam, violence in the streets of Chicago and a Democratic candidate, Hubert Humphrey, wounded by the spectacle, divisions within his party, and a nation fed up with political activism.

Conditions for disruption of city services in Denver exist in 2008 today because this year’s nominating convention is being held in a town much smaller than Chicago.  Fewer hotels, less mass transit and fewer police facing an international press corps looking for stories.  Not every interview with be as well managed as the one with Adam Jung who wants to bring thousands of young people to Denver to protest the war in Iraq.  Half the residents attending yesterday’s meeting expressed serious concerns.

The Rocky Mountain News reports “"I just think it's overwhelming," said Cynthia Vaida, concerned when she heard that nearly all of Tent State's previous events were done on college campuses. Kevin Jones, who raised his hand as opposed to the overnight camping, said later he was ambivalent, citing worries about where the group would go once it disperses.”

That a good question, Mr. Jones.  The question that follows also needs an answer: 

“Where will the country go after the election brings President Barack Obama, Adam Jung and all those other social activists to Washington, DC?”